STAR TREK
"Noble but Useless"
Samuel Paris carried the rank of captain on the stalwart USS Bode. It was a tug that had been damaged in battle. It needed repair.
A traveling therapist beamed aboard to say to an engineer, "God, I love to hate this job. But it pays very well. What do you think, kind sir?"
"I think you're under arrest," he returned as he tapped his badge. "Like your work."
As the therapist was cuffed, he stated, "You should tell my Q-ship to leave without me."
"There is nothing I'd rather do," the engineer smiled contacting the bridge. "The therapist for our wounded has been put in custody."
On the bridge, the message was redirected to sickbay. It was the ship's safest place.
"Put in custody?" inquired the captain. "I'm in need of him here. The Klingons killed many."
His smile faded, "I do not think he is up to the challenge. He cursed our wounded men."
Meanwhile, Samuel Paris went back to work in sickbay as he was with an injured crewman, "Your friends told me you like to play cards."
He replied with warmth, "Not really, sir. Look on the backs of the cards."
"Oh," the captain said cocking an eye. "There are naked women on the backs."
He gave the cards back to the patient. It was intensive care on the Ptolemy-class ship.
"Okay," the captain said. "Here it is. We have to send you home. Your injury needs a closer look."
The patient became violently ill. He had been hit with delta rays, "Don't send me back! My career started only a few days ago."
"You're going back home!" Samuel cried as he held the ensign in his arms. "You will be given better attention at a starbase."
In the brig, they did not see the new prisoner as much of a threat. He still had his tricorder. He used it to interact with a computer.
Downloading information, he had been known to escape from brigs. In this case, it would not be difficult. That deck had a hull fracture.
For this man, a brig was cobbled together. In medical garb, he performed an escape.
He was foiled. The captain struck him with his fist, "On my ship, I will only arrest you once."
There was a hearing. It was clear they were dealing with a hacker. His name was not known, "I want answers. What is your hacker alias?"
"Then what?" he asked as he smiled like the Cheshire Cat. "I get sent to prison?"
Pauses took place around the table. Captain Samuel Paris used a computer, "Computer, what is the device our visitor brought with him?"
"It is a medical tricorder used by Star Fleet."
The Vulcan first officer spoke up, "Who is the tricorder issued out to, computer?"
"A Star Fleet hacker by the name Loki."
"Hey," the therapist pointed out. "You got the name wrong. My real hacker name is… oh."
It had become clear they were dealing with a skilled liar, "Selok, did you study the tricorder?"
"Yes, Captain," the first officer stated. "He was downloading intelligence from a computer with the intent to escape in one of our shuttles."
"Then why would he steal a tricorder? It does not make any sense. He would get caught."
"Exactly," the Vulcan told him. He was known to be honest to a fault. It confused him.
As he was being cuffed, he said, "I think I like the name Loki. After I become a solid citizen, I do believe that name will retire me."
"Good for you," Samuel Paris said with a smile as security escorted him out the door.
As the cuffs got uncomfortable, he turned to the captain and told him, "This doesn't make us friends, though. Not by a longshot."
Rubbing his hand, the fist he used to strike him with started to hurt, "Captain?"
"I have to do some research in my cabin," he responded. "Our guest looks familiar."
The captain was kicking himself in the head on this one. He knew Star Fleet would never convict. He once saw him on the news as a war hero.
"Master Revealed"
In deep space, the Bode was facing the Gorn Confederation. There was a ship stalking them. In time, talk of total war would take place.
"Working," a computer stated. "Gorn cruisers have sacked three systems. They reported it as an accident. This started three days ago."
Hearing this, Captain Samuel Paris turned to the Vulcan first officer, "Selok, what do the Gorn have against the Federation anyway? This ship has orders to destroy trespassers."
"New orders coming in, Captain," Selok said to the helpless officer. He was getting nervous.
"Enter the attacked space by request of a Gorn ambassador," he read. "The stalking ship will make contact with us as soon as possible."
"Deliberations?" Samuel inquired. "That makes no sense. They have sacked us three times."
The Bode always followed every order to the letter. It made its way to the Gorn border.
Once they got there, a Metron appeared before the captain on the bridge. There was a pause.
Standing up, the captain negotiated, "Please tell me you're the ambassador whose coming was foretold. At least, tell us your name."
Selok, with a tricorder in hand, stated, "It's a Metron, Captain. We have records of them."
"What is a Metron?"
With a smile, the humanoid dressed in silver said onto him, "Your question will be answered when you touch my cloak. It activates a teleporter."
"No. I will not."
He vanished anyway, "Captain! Put the ship on red alert, Thompson. We have to find him."
The superior teleporter of the Gorn took them to the stalking ship. The Metron explained, "This is the brig of a Gorn destroyer. I cannot tell you its name for security reasons."
"You mean, you will let me go?" Captain Paris responded in relief. Guards were outside.
"If you're lucky," he continued. "Would you like to see the captain? She's on deck one."
"Yes, take me to the captain."
Upon arriving on the bridge, it was a Metron female in command. It was obvious. On a leash, she had a baby Gorn as she sat in her chair.
"Helmsman Thompson, take us on a course into Gorn space," Selok said as the first officer.
"Yes, sir," he responded rubbing sweat from his brow. They engaged engine power.
The chief engineer contacted the bridge via intercom, "Repaired engines turned on."
Selok responded, "The bridge thanks you, Rush Logan. Ready phasers and prepare to fire."
Meanwhile, on the Gorn starship, "So this is a destroyer in your fleet. Looks nice."
"Yo, Samuel," the Metron said. "Pay attention to me. I am offering you peace between us."
"I think not," Samuel replied. Just as he made this claim, the Gorn people got upset. He was at the center of the room ready to die.
He continued, "Why did you sack three of our systems? That's why I'm here this hour."
The Metron stated, "It was an attack that the others in our race would like to forget. The attacks cost us six ships. Humans fight with hate."
"What do you propose?" he asked. Guards were standing over him ready to defend the two.
The Metrons looked toward one another. Then the female said, "If you defeat the baby Gorn at the foot of my chair, we will let you go."
Samuel Paris looked at the screen to see his command attacked by Gorn nimble ships. It was then the baby Gorn was freed. It was struck by the human in midair.
Captain Paris was bitten in the arm when he was not looking. The whole bridge watched as the captain took the beast by the collar and hurled him into the viewing screen.
"Ouch!" he said in horrible pain.
This did not make the Gorn happy. They were reaching for their disruptors. With the wave of his hand, the Metron halted them, "Captain, I will take care of your injury. This conflict is over."
Once he was treated by the Metrons, he was treated by his own crew. Sensors were found in the rattled man. Samuel craved shore leave.
"Necessary Pause"
On an ordinary mission within the dark abyss of space, the USS Bode carried a pod. It traveled at low warp speeds. Tugs did this for cargo.
"Are we going to be on time, Commander?" the captain asked the Vulcan first officer.
"Yes," he spoke. "For once, we are on time. Our cargo will reach its destination."
"Good," the captain responded. "I am going to take a bath. Ensign Mara Clark, you will care for the bridge until I get back."
Meanwhile, close by, the starship Rebuke was met by the Kzinti. The captain of the Burke-class ship hoped it would end in peace. He started, "This is the USS Rebuke. My name is Greg Philips. Please respond – why are you in our space?"
"We come baring gifts, Earthman," spoke the leader of those catlike people.
As the Kzinti came on board, helmets and all, it became necessary to lead them to deck one.
"We offer you a truce between us," one Kzinti said. "All you have to do is break this seal."
The captain inquired, "You mean, all I must do is open this treaty and we are allies?"
"No, Captain," his yeoman and wife said. "It's a trap. Peace does not come so easy."
It was too late. He already broke the seal. Gas came out killing the bridge crew. The Kzinti took control of the ship by gassing all decks.
Back on the Bode, the captain returned from his bath. Taking command again, Selok said to the captain, "Samuel, the Rebuke is off course."
"Help them with our location."
"There is no response," Selok spoke. "They are coming right for us, though."
Panting, Samuel Paris replied, "Put them on the screen. And remember to raise shields."
The superior frigate opened fire on the tug carrying a pod. The cargo was their goal. They made tactical hits on all vital systems.
The bridge exploded. The captain came to his yeoman's aid. She was dead. Samuel ordered, "Drop the pod. Enter warp for a base station."
Helmsman Shawn Thompson didn't waste time on the order. He quickly obeyed the captain.
The Kzinti spoke to each other, "Why? Why does our enemy not attack us?"
"They left their cargo pod full of treasure," one said as the gas wore off. The cat people, known as the Kzinti, took up arms to reach the pod. It was a challenge to get to the transporter.
"Samuel Paris, we saw the moments of your battle. This is K-7. Beam to my office, alone."
The captain was in trouble. Upon arrival, repair of the ship began. He did as he was told. He went to the office of the man in charge.
"How are things going in the lucrative base station business?" the captain smiled. "I hope you are always busy. Still orbiting the Federation?"
"Don't patronize me," he barked. "According to our scans, you gave up a pod just like that."
Samuel didn't enjoy being snapped at. He had a defense, "What about the frigate that was stolen from the Federation? You must find it."
"Go to hell," the man in charge told him. Then the captain was taken by a security team.
Selok and the crew were allowed rest on the station. They took it as shore leave.
The Vulcan lied to save his captain, "It was a pseudo pod. There was no actual cargo."
"Okay," he responded. "I'll remove him from custody tomorrow. He's a free man."
As they shook hands, Selok explained, "It is a fact that the Kzinti may be floating around without gravity, lifeless, as we speak."
In the main lounge, the men and women of the starship Bode were enjoying themselves.
Gloria Dawson raised her glass, "To the captain of our ship, the founder of this leave."
"Yeah," Dustin Fields complied, "I would do as she says. She outranked me in no time."
They toasted to the captain thinking he was in the brig. He walked into the room.
He was redeemed and promised to keep the cargo pod a secret between him and Selok. But, to remain honest, he struck his first officer.
"Prime Universe"
It was Star Fleet Headquarters. For the crime of striking his first officer, Samuel Paris had been sentenced to two years. It was done.
"Where are you going to go?" Selok inquired as he left the brig. He was being sincere.
"I'm out of Star Fleet," he tearfully said. "I have to make another home in space."
Nearby, a hacker was going up and down the corridors begging anyone for the name Loki. As a matter of fact, he had been caught several times selling information to the Romulans.
"I must have this alias!" the hacker said. "I'm not exactly changing my real, legal name."
Star Fleet responded once more, "That name was already taken as a hacker alias."
He had been doing this for months.
Star Fleet sent a message to the USS Bode so that they could pick up their former captain. Its marine major had become the new captain.
"Mary Chase here," the captain replied to the message sent by the massive starbase.
"Captain, the reason we are contacting you is for the sake of your former captain. You have orders to take him home and off our hands."
Always with a smile, she stated, "We will dock at once. Helm, take us inside."
The chief engineer, Rush Logan, was ready for shore leave just like everyone else.
"Yes, sir," he said looking back at her.
At Star Fleet Headquarters, the hacker with no name asked, "Might I change my real name?"
"Yes, but I don't think that's legal," she said. "I will have to do a background check."
As the hacker was waiting, he thought he was in trouble. He did not have a good record. He had the uncontrollable urge to snack.
She came back to tell him, "It's okay. Your son is a rather skilled Star Fleet officer."
"Me, too," he leaned over to tell her.
It was a total lie. The innocent woman fell for it anyway. With access to a computer, his son was found. To know he was there elated him.
He heard from a computer, "Dustin Fields, you must halt your repairs and transport over."
"Big station," he mumbled under his breath.
As he gathered up all his things, the message would go on to say, "Your father is here."
"I'll get to it," he said. Dustin signed away the day to meet his father. It had been a while.
"Are you here to confront me with honor?" a certain former captain cried with intent to kill the hacker with a phaser. He blamed him for the things that changed in the last two years.
"I used to not have a legal name," he then replied to the challenge. "But my hacker alias has always been Thor. You see, I don't care."
"If that was true," Samuel spoke, "I could have been a fleet admiral by the time I was born."
"Put on a spacesuit and fight," Samuel Paris continued as gravity had made them both fools. Loki turned to Dustin Fields. He would speak.
"I think I should kill him," he told him. "There is a phaser inside my pocket. It's set to vaporize."
They put on their suits. Dustin would close the airlock. He wanted that his father survive.
They ran at each other with fists. Loki meant to kill him. Samuel dodged a phaser bolt by jumping with his fist smashing the helmet of his attacker.
Samuel Paris was beamed to the Bode while the captain asked, "You killed a terrorist with that move? Computer, give me a channel to Star Fleet Headquarters. I want to talk to them."
"What do you think you are doing? We have found a body floating outside our window. It was a murder committed by Samuel Paris."
"I demand that he be reinstated as the captain of the USS Bode. You said to take him home," she continued. "My crew is united on this one."
"If you don't," Captain Mary Chase started, "I will self-destruct and take all of you with me."
"Standby," Star Fleet replied. "Yes."
In the gym, the captain was getting back into shape. Mary Chase would return to her duties as the marine major. Samuel had made a home.
"The Space Patron"
Honesty motivated Dustin Fields. His superior approached him with a truth. She was so pretty that he was always nervous around her.
In a corridor, she began, "Good morning. You serve below as Lieutenant Dustin Fields."
"This is true," he responded with people in the corridor with them. "How does this affect me?"
Mary Chase smiled at him, "Change of orders from Star Fleet. You've been promoted."
"We are on schedule to return to Earth dock as soon as possible," Mary told him.
Realizing something, "That's why the captain told the crew shore leave was coming."
"Good luck," she said to Dustin as she shook his hand. Just then, what felt like weapons struck the ship leaving a big hole in the USS Bode.
As everyone ran to their posts, Mary overheard a message, "Captain! Deflectors have been hit!"
"I thought we were at warp five."
On the bridge, Commander Selok asked upon arrival, "What has happened in here?"
A yeoman spoke, "The navigational deflectors were not as solid as we thought they were. We were simply going too fast."
"Why?" Captain Samuel Paris asked. Then he recalled each and every battle.
There was a silence.
The ship came out of warp hard and fell into the atmosphere of a deadly planet.
"Captain," the ship's doctor expressed.
With a bump on his head, he replied, "Get those shields up! I read a hole on deck seven! Give me status on each deck! Yes, doctor."
"We have wounded here," she began. "Is there anything you need? You hurt, Captain?"
"I'm alright here," he looked to Selok. "We are starting to explore the planet."
In spacesuits, Selok commanded a team. One was Marine Dustin Fields. Doctor Dede Smith was also coming with them, "Here we are."
"There's nothing here," Dede said as the three started to walk around the planet surface.
Something hit the commander. It was a spear lodged in his shoulder, "Are you alright?"
"I'm prone on the ground," Selok spoke.
Lieutenant Fields fired at the primitives who attacked the Vulcan he served under. The doctor noticed, "Selok, my communicator won't operate on this planet. How could we not foresee this?"
"All our power was in life-support," he told his command with a spear in his shoulder.
Meanwhile, on the Bode, Captain Paris was treated in the transporter room. He had to strike a burn victim to make it to the console, "Shall we activate an interplanetary distress beacon?"
Dustin asked, "Doctor, could you show me an image of my starship before I die?"
She took out her tricorder and said, "Sure. It's the Callaghan-class USS Delta. Look."
"Thank you," he began. "Now I have to take the spear out before we get eaten or something."
Dede quickly stated, "But he's still wearing his spacesuit, marine. It's not a good idea."
"Trust me," the man said. He pulled it out with the assistance of the wounded first officer.
Suddenly, they were transported back to the Bode with the malfunction in Selok's suit. It had a chip inside for times like these.
Gas had filled his lungs. Dustin asked while the medics came, "How did you locate us?"
"As his suit failed," Samuel Paris replied in an assuring voice, "it told us where you were."
In Earth dock, the police cutter was hailed on an open channel, "You must rescue a Ptolemy-class ship that has collided with a rock."
"Why am I going to do that?" the acting captain replied. He was not ready to go anywhere.
Being with a skeleton crew, the response was lazily simple, "One of your marines is there."
USS Bode was in trouble, "We are cleared for departure. The rest we'll handle later."
In the sickbay, Commander Selok was stable once they were picked up by the Delta. He healed in record time. It was indicative of his race.
"Honor the Sphere"
He quickly adapted to the new starship. It was of the Callaghan-class. Dustin Fields served as a marine. His captain dined with him.
"Your old captain retired after the destruction of the Bode," Hugh Davis noted at the table.
Dustin Fields responded, "You know, he struck a person in every mission he went on."
With the sound of his voice, officers moved to other parts of the lounge. They did not like the idea that Samuel Paris could be Thor.
"What?" Dustin asked. He merely stated a truth and had a pet peeve about being shunned. He, as a marine, had to defend his old captain.
It didn't last long. He was outnumbered ten to one. With his head down, Lieutenant Fields entered a cell in the brig. His captain spoke, "Your skills are noted. But only start fights you can win."
He saw the other officers in the fight enter the cell next door to him. Hatred formed there.
For starting the fight, Dustin was never to be promoted again. He assumed the captain liked him and always wanted him as a marine.
He fell asleep. When he awoke, a disruptor was in his face. Holding it was a Klingon female, "I am Kur. You will come with me."
Dustin spoke, "I will take you to the bridge. You must have been locked out of there."
He paused to see the ones in the cell next to him lifeless and dead. Kur told him, "My ship returns in five hours, human. It is the IKV Smite."
Bodies were everywhere. Klingons carried the fight, but deck one had not been taken.
By the time they got there, Dustin summed up the strength to claim his freedom, "Please tell me that's a Star Fleet officer."
"Yes, Captain," he responded. "The USS Delta still fights. Do you need anything—"
The injured captain, Hugh Davis, was sitting in his chair when he pulled him close, "I need you to lock the bridge and drive the ship back home."
He did as he was told. They would make it back to Federation space before it was too late.
Eventually, the men of the Delta took back the ship from the Klingon boarding parties.
Kur held her head up as she entered the same cell she found Dustin, "Marine, I'm the head of our department. What is your name?"
"Eric Kissinger, sir," a proud corporal said as he loaded the brig with more Klingons.
"Okay," Kur began. "I'll confess. I was sent into battle to locate a sphere which assures victory in every conflict. You must have it, I'm sure."
Dustin paused, "Do you see this? It's a disruptor drained of power. And you're going to tell me this was all for a Klingon lucky charm."
"If we do not return with it," she started, "the next warship I will have is a freighter."
Eric added, "One named Lucky Charm."
"Exactly," she continued. She believed all she need do was stare to make her problems disappear until her beloved warship came to her rescue.
"All you had to do was say please, and we might have given you a fake sphere."
The crew was so small it could barely operate at warp speed. And it had limited weapons.
Soon, they would return to Earth dock. It was the time to talk about the sphere, "From what I see here, they're looking for a ball, Captain."
"Could it be that simple?" Eric asked him.
"It never is with the Klingons," Dustin said to everyone in the room. "It has to be a special Earth ball. Let's give them a baseball then."
In the brig, they prayed for release. The marine company approached the Klingons with a ball, "We have your sphere. Please ward off your F5 frigate before it comes back to kill us."
"Let us out," Kur ordered. "Beam us to our ship to fight once more. Give us the sphere."
Marine Fields handed them a baseball made from a material fabricator, "Here it is. And there's only one in the whole universe. Peace be with you and all of mankind. Let's both shake hands."
"Thank you," Kur said to him.
In the end, it was a victory for the Delta. Dustin Fields was never promoted again. It was their time to count the dead and lick their wounds.
"Independent Man"
It would be quite a day for the Callaghan-class starship. As a police cutter, the Delta needed to be aware of fluctuating Orion borders.
"Report," Captain Hugh Davis stressed to the one that would be first officer. He requested Selok and got him fresh from medical leave.
Pausing, "Captain, we are coming up on a small freighter adrift in a nearby system."
"Lieutenant Commander Owi-Ben, can it be an option – getting to the small freighter?" the captain asked the Andorian at the helm.
With an assertive voice, he replied, "If we enter the Orion Syndicate, and retrieve it, we can."
The captain only wanted to do this if it was a Federation freighter. Eric Kissinger and Dustin Fields drank synthetic alcohol together, "The USS Delta is a nimble ship? That helps in battle."
"Lock tractor beam to carry the small freighter back into our space," ordered the captain.
Owi-Ben responded, "Freighter Cherry Boy has been locked onto our course at impulse."
"Dede Smith here," the ship's doctor said over the intercom. "Selok and I require an entire marine squad of four for the next mission."
They came from the transporter room. It was required to wear spacesuits, "Life-support has been turned off. We have to find the engine room."
"Move out," Dustin Fields said to Eric Kissinger and two privates. He would feel fear.
"I can restore gravity to the Cherry Boy," Selok said to himself. "Gravity is back on."
"Look out!" Doctor Smith cried as a very large beast attacked from the cargo bay. It smelled the fear in Dustin Fields. Eric fired his phaser.
The beast tore a hole in his spacesuit. Doctor Smith ran to treat Dustin's wounds. Selok was the one to find engineering, "It's here."
"I found the main console," he said as the four marines surrounded Selok to guard him.
The medical officer spoke, "I must beam back to the Delta to care for Dustin Fields. You guys can survive without a doctor on the team."
As she beamed back, Selok moved to the main engineering console. It exploded. The marines came to his aid, "Are you alright, Commander?"
"What's going on there?" the captain asked in curiosity. Hugh was still on the bridge.
"Beam the first officer back. I must remain to secure the Cherry Boy until you send a repair team to come down here and fix this."
Later, Eric Kissinger went to sickbay to see his friend Dustin, "Hey, Dusty. How are you?"
"Fine, man," he stated. Then, as a reaction, the doctor lost the patient. He started to twitch.
"What did you do?" Dede inquired of him in her office as the dead marine was put on ice.
"I don't know," he replied. His head was down as he felt great shame in the matter.
Looking at her computer, she returned, "It says here, you never changed clothes."
"I'll do that now," he said quickly returning to the bunk he shared. He cried real tears.
Hugh Davis had to speak to him. The captain talked to next of kin. He was in his quarters.
"Come in corporal. I'm almost done."
"Ma'am," the captain began, "your son is not in trouble. He was leading a mission and—"
"Oh, that's wonderful. I knew he would make something of himself," she started to show pictures from his childhood. "You're Samuel Paris?"
"I'm sorry. He's dead," Hugh replied. "He was on another ship and slowly passed on."
"So, I don't hear from my husband, and now I've lost the very person he warned about Star Fleet in the first place," she cried. "I'm going to sue."
He felt a smile, "You do that."
"You wanted to see me, sir?" Eric spoke as he expected the worst from his captain.
"Sit down, soldier," the man told him lighting a cigar to respect the dead. "I want to know what to do with you. Do you, yourself, have any ideas?"
The marine took full responsibility for actions resulting in the death of his friend. He was forced to take on the mantle of that superior officer.
"The Last Strike"
Samuel Paris was on his way to the Delta. On board, he arrested Eric Kissinger from Earth. He was in street clothes piloting a shuttle.
As a retired captain with no uniform, Samuel had only Earth to return to, "Hugh Davis, I've been trying to contact you for half an hour."
"Is that you, Samuel Paris?" it was asked. "I've heard much about you from my first officer."
Samuel arrived in a shuttlecraft armed with a warp booster pack. It landed in the Delta. Then the shuttle was assigned another booster.
"How's my favorite Vulcan?" the retired captain had to ask. "Does he want me to hit him?"
"I'll have to ask him," he continued. "About this court martial. It's highly irregular."
"No doubt," Samuel spoke as his shuttle sat in the shuttlebay. He was acting as a civilian.
"It's possible that Eric Kissinger is guilty of the crime I have been accusing him of in all this."
"He might be innocent," the captain stated as a space veteran with a smile on his face.
The retired captain noted, "There is little to no chance that he has a defense."
The starship needed a court martial. For this alone, Samuel Paris wore a uniform.
"Testimony," he said. "For what reason did you not change your spacesuit after the mission?"
There was a pause.
"I didn't mean to harm him. Please don't take my rank away from me," the marine said.
There was another pause.
Next, Hugh Davis was on the stand, "Is he the corporal in question? Tell the truth, please."
"What do you mean?" the captain said in the court martial. He did not have a case.
"He pleaded incompetence, Captain. It's a step up from being awkward. And you gave him a promotion."
At the trial's end, Samuel Paris had no choice but to assume command. They were headed to Star Fleet Headquarters to seek legal advice.
"Captain Samuel Paris here," said the captain as he answered a voice over the intercom.
Rush Logan came along with him, "One of the shuttles has been taken. Guess which one."
"Transporter room," he spoke into his captain's chair. The engineer was already there.
After the captain ran from the bridge, he was beamed to the shuttle. It had a warp booster for the return trip to Earth. He hid inside.
He said to himself, "Thank you, engineer."
As the traitor attempted to flee, the captain crept up on him with a hand phaser, "You are under arrest for a simple violation of ethics."
"Don't make this the last thing you do," Captain Samuel Paris spoke. "You will surrender."
Hugh Davis launched the shuttle as he was attacked. They started to wrestle around. Samuel thought it unwise to use his phaser.
The fight continued until Hugh Davis had the upper hand. Luckily, the phaser was on overload. It threw Samuel to the back of the shuttle.
He struck the console with his fist, "Delta, can anyone hear me? I need a rescue."
Time passed before he got an answer. Then he experienced the tingle of a transporter beam.
The next thing he did was contact his superior at Star Fleet Headquarters. He asked him.
"Could I be captain of this ship?" he asked the admiral. "I promise I'll be good all year."
"You served well on the Bode," he was more than happy to say. "What about the marine?"
"I'll have him polishing the corridors," he spoke as he tried to control his laughter.
"Good job," Star Fleet said as the Delta came in for a docking. "You're close to being famous."
"I just miss Dustin Fields," he said. "He always had a knack for getting into trouble."
Another pause took place.
Samuel's eyes teared up, "How did they lay his body to rest? I neglected to ask others."
"The mission was to rescue the small freighter Cherry Boy. So they put him there in a drone."
And so it was. Samuel Paris found a way to command another starship. He had only Dustin Fields to thank for it. It was a reason to be more.
"Joseph Campbell"
In due time, a young, new captain was rising to power. At least, he had a perfect score in the flight simulator. Joseph Campbell was a force.
"Hey, Captain," a passing lieutenant said. "Are you done braking Star Fleet records?"
As one of the youngest captains in space, he was trained to be ready for anything, "Yes, I think I have broken just about all of them."
Joseph Campbell then heard a message over the intercom, "Would Star Fleet's newest captain report to the USS Loki NCC-529. Thanks."
Someone inquired, "Who's that?"
He replied with a towel over his back, "That's me. I'll get there after I take a bath. Good-bye."
"Captain Campbell, you are late," the engineer said. "You missed your top brass sendoff."
In uniform, he asked, "What's the mission?"
"The USS Delta will tell you everything," was the answer. It came complete with a salute.
"Engage at full warp capacity," Joseph said as he sat down in his chair smiling ear to ear.
With the warp drive engaged, he spoke, "I'm a little hungry. I'll catch you guys later."
Behind him, his female yeoman followed him into the turbolift. She asked, "May I come with?"
"Not really," he replied. "I usually eat alone in my quarters. Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, sure," the young yeoman responded. You could cut the tension with a knife.
"What's the class of a destroyer like this?" he asked hoping his guess was a correct one. It was really something he should have known.
She told him, "It's of the Saladin-class. Please tell me you knew that. Do you require a tour of the starship before we arrive at our destination?"
Jogging down the corridor, "No. I'm going to take a nap. I'll say I went to the gym."
On the USS Delta, the ship was damaged so badly it was being pulled slowly into Tholian space by two patrol corvettes with tractor beams.
"Everyone," Samuel Paris inquired, "remain on the ship to repair all our best ship systems."
On this support mission, the Loki chose to fire the first phaser salvo, "Sneak attack."
It took a while for the Tholian corvettes to drop their prey, "Attention. High alert. Call for help."
USS Delta had a chance. Captain Paris spoke into an open channel, "Joseph Campbell, I have a question to ask. Can we beam over?"
"Yes," the stalwart captain replied. "I'll lower shields, so we can mass transport your men."
Unfortunately, an attacking cruiser heard the message sent and received in battle, "Fire all of our weapons at the Saladin-class ship."
The Tholians were too late. The beaming was complete. This filled up all the corridors.
With every ship there damaged, the captain ordered shields up. Then he got an idea, "Open fire on the Delta. In death, it will damage them."
"Great idea," Samuel Paris said. "I'm going to miss her, though. She was a good ship."
The explosion destroyed one of the attackers but left a hole in the shields, "Sir, boarding parties are on board. They are apparently Tholian."
"Come with me, men and women!"
In the corridors of the Loki, the small number of attackers were killing many. Samuel Paris was vaporized by a webslinger device.
"Captain," it was said to the bridge, "we have lost Samuel. The Tholians are making webs."
"That's too bad," he calmly said. "I was going to challenge him to a game of 3-D chess."
"Open fire," Captain Campbell said. Victory was assured. The Tholians fled right into their own web wall at maximum warp. The battle was over.
Boarding parties were detained. It was time to mourn the lost crew and Captain Samuel Paris.
Joseph Campbell had some words, "He was a captain's captain. As his crew was noble. I hear he died bravely facing the enemy. Many have died on this day, and I must return to repairs."
Instead of repairs, he went to a lounge. It was empty except for a 3-D chessboard. He threw the board against a bulkhead. It started there.
"Corporal Kissinger"
It was a far cry from scrubbing the corridors on the USS Delta. This time, it was the USS Loki. It was a larger vessel and his new home.
Eric Kissinger had the captain walking by, "You are doing a good job, Corporal Kissinger."
He shook his head as they laughed. Then he recalled a question, "Captain, doesn't the ship clean itself? Am I still being punished here?"
"I'm training you, Corporal. If you don't like it, I can always have you transferred elsewhere."
He got in the captain's face, "No, sir! I will be the captain of the USS Loki someday."
"You are a marine," he said with prejudice. "You can't be the captain of a starship."
The red alert klaxons began to sound. The ship was under attack. Running to the bridge, the captain told Eric, "I order you to continue."
He swore, "I'm claiming this whole starship as mine. I don't care what anybody else says."
On the bridge, "There is a Doomsday Machine on our sensors, and it has fired on us, Captain."
"How did I get into this?" the captain asked his helmsman. "First, you are patrolling, then you are attacked by weapons of mass destruction."
"I don't know, sir," the Andorian responded to Joseph Campbell. "Do you have orders?"
As the Saladin-class ship spun with one more hit to its shields, the captain showed fear, "Crew, I have one last order – abandon ship!"
Eric Kissinger ran to contact the bridge, "This is treason. Call other ships to reinforce us!"
"Word from the marines – Joseph Campbell is arrested," cried the tactical officer.
The bridge was crushed by another hit. Then the Doomsday Machine passed them by. The Loki was tore up, "More ships are coming."
"What are you doing?" the captain cried with cuffs on him. "I wasn't leaving the ship."
Hours had gone by. Repairs were failing while the ship conserved engine power.
Helmsman Owi-Ben was the first officer. He spoke to Eric, "You no longer have to clean floors."
The corporal replied, "You mean, I can return to normal duties? What about the captain?"
"Yes," he said. "The captain is safe with us."
Owi-Ben continued, "I am willing to make you sergeant. Won't you accept it, Eric Kissinger?"
As he was thinking on it, the red alert klaxons sounded. They looked at the viewing screen. Three ships were coming in to assist them.
"No," the corporal answered the first officer expecting a reply. He acquired all his needs.
"At least you'll take a reward," returned the acting captain. There was a moment of silence.
"I'll only ask you to let the captain out of the brig. Joseph Campbell is a powerful man. Let him be forgiven. He does not know any better."
In time, the USS Loki was taken back to Star Fleet Headquarters. Repairs began.
For the surviving crew, there was shore leave on the luxurious starbase. They lost dozens.
His admiral called him out, "Joseph, how is it you don't know as much about the law as a marine corporal? You know what, I don't even care."
"Please. I don't want to relive the experience."
Captain Joseph Campbell passed a recreation deck alive with party lights and music. He walked in to see Eric dancing with female officers.
Out of jealousy, he turned the lights and music off with a phaser. It rained circuits.
"Hey," Eric said in civilian clothes. "Can't you see I'm entertaining? Whatever did I do?"
The captain pushed him against a bulkhead. He was about to strike a fellow officer. That would be a court martial offence. It was not a good idea.
Corporal Kissinger thought fast, "I challenge you to a duel on the field of honor."
At first, he did not know the reference. Then he realized he spoke of 3-D chess. He thought about it for a while, then he said, "Lead the way."
Out the window was the repairing USS Loki distracting the starship captain on his game.
A crowd gathered as they battled. It was a fair fight with the crew watching over. The marine won in a heartbeat. Onlookers cheered for him.
"The Human Shield"
The ship was punished by its admiral. It was one to catalog outer space. But the man who swore to be captain kept up his spirits.
It had been quite a ride, "Eric, I just have to ask a question. If you would, please."
Eric Kissinger was leaving his bunk with two off duty female officers under each arm.
"I'm celebrating," he responded. "I received a commendation for being bulletproof. Remember the Gorn that we fought last week?"
"Yes," the engineer asserted. "A Gorn warrior aimed a disruptor at you and opened fire."
He smiled, "I thought I was dead. I hid on the castle floor until more marines came."
"Corporal, you're late."
On the bridge, Captain Campbell was lazily in his captain's chair, "Close to Gorn space."
"Daniel Swanson," he asked the science officer as he took space pictures, "how much more of this?"
"It will be over soon," he replied. Then klaxons started to sound. They were in trouble.
"Contact engineering," the captain said as a cup of coffee had fallen into his lap.
Engineering hailed the bridge, "Joseph! High on synthetic alcohol, the half-dressed Eric Kissinger tripped over auxiliary systems."
"You mean, the ship is not repaired yet?" the captain demanded. "Now I know why we were given this assignment. But we're getting slower."
"I'm arresting that corporal, personally," the first officer stated as a large ship appeared. It was a mile away but still filled the screen.
"Hail that ship," the captain said. "And give me a damage report. I'll take the helm."
"Captain, we don't have the fuel to get back to Federation space," cried the engineer.
On the screen appeared an aberration. It was Santa Clause, "Hello, Joseph Campbell. You are on the naughty list. You do not believe."
"Request permission to beam over," he said as he was seeing his name in the history books.
"Yes. Only with Eric Kissinger."
The captain made his way to the transporter room with his best men. He had to hail the brig to assign its contents to the mission.
"Come this way, children," Santa said onto the team armed with phasers set to stun.
"What is this place?" Eric Kissinger spoke. Then they were faced with Commander Balok.
"Hello, my friends. Come here," the baby like leader of the massive craft bade.
Captain Campbell represented his people, "Can this be possible? You built this entire ship?"
He laughed, "Don't be threatened. I'm going to help your fuel problem for a trade."
The captain told him softly, "Sure."
"Give me Eric Kissinger," he smiled. All eyes focused on him. Then he opened up his mouth.
"Why?" the scared marine inquired. Balok gave out a laugh. It was his favorite question.
"I am going to make you captain of the Loki for one whole day. Because I like you."
The captain smiled, "Okay, take him. He has been a disgrace since we launched. I am going to be more careful on who I hire in the future."
"I'm feeling very generous. I will affect repairs on the USS Loki to make it work better."
"Captain," Dede Smith said to him, "the ship is lifeless in space. We should return."
After the Loki left the area, Eric Kissinger was on a copy that looked the same in every way. With his memory wiped, he became the captain.
In uniform, Daniel said, "New info has come. It's not bad either. The corporal is a clone."
"Clone of who?" the acting captain replied as he stood up to the science officer on that copy of the starship he used to serve. "Tell me."
"Christopher Pike," the man said. "You are to be the leader of this ship forever."
Santa Clause looked to Balok and laughed. The two walked off. He asked, "How could you?"
"I know," he said. "He's a domineering man who has no sense of purpose. I will explain."
He actually liked Joseph more. But he knew a captain would never leave his ship. So he took the least skilled to save his crew and mission.
"Samuel Paris"
One day, the marine would have to realize he was not a clone but living in a fantasy world. It was a matter of time until the truth came.
Eric walked the corridors. He stopped as he realized something, "This ship is not mine."
"We don't even receive orders," he spoke. Then the corporal turned to see Balok. He slowly came to realize his surroundings were fake.
Balok stated, "Eric Kissinger, as you may have surmised by now, I built this place for you."
"I don't believe we've met," he replied with his arms crossed as others took a look.
"Do not be frightened," Balok said as the two walked together. "I'm here to set you free."
Balok laughed when he asked, "Can I keep the ship, though? I have grown fond of the Loki."
"Yes. Anything for a friend," the baby like alien said to him on the biggest ship in deep space. "That's the kind of commander I am – a real sucker."
Inside the flagship, the Loki was teleported to freedom. Distance befell both ships.
The tactical officer spoke, "Captain, a shuttle is losing oxygen. Your old captain is there."
"Which one?" Eric Kissinger asked as the one in command of the Loki. "Oh, I don't even care."
He ordered a rescue with no words.
"Samuel Paris?" he cried in shock entering the sickbay. "This can't be. I watched you die."
Samuel made a recent escape from Tholian custody. He was not vaporized in battle.
"I saw another world. The Tholians that were released after the fight took me with them."
There was a pause, "You do realize that you're not the captain of a ship, Eric Kissinger."
"To hell I'm not," the marine told him. He began to pace around the room. "I suppose I'm not a clone of Captain Christopher Pike either."
Even though he was near death, the captain laughed hard, "Not in a million years."
"Look at your uniform," he continued. "You are dressed as a marine corporal. Now, it's possible this crew is all clones. But I don't think you are."
"Prove it," the acting captain demanded with a look of disbelief no one could imagine.
"Okay," Samuel asked. "How do you synthesize a methylated alkaloid? Take a wild guess."
"I don't know that," Eric Kissinger stated. "No one knows that. You've got to be kidding me."
The captain simply replied, "By reproducing its characteristics. Trust me on this one."
Meanwhile, on the distant starship of the same name, the Loki was limping back home.
Its captain spoke, "I don't know if this ship can take any more of this. When do we dock?"
Owi-Ben stated, "We will reach Earth dock in a matter of weeks. But an unknown ship is closing on us fast. Do we drop out of impulse?"
"Yes," the captain said. "Put us on red alert. Do not arm weapons. We can't fight like this."
"Scanners say it is the USS Loki," the science officer said after a long pause. "It's the Loki that we left behind when we confronted Balok."
"Come in," the approaching captain spoke on a channel to the distant ship. "Samuel Paris here. You and I have plans for a game of 3-D chess."
"I remember those plans, Captain Paris," the captain said. "Beam him to the bridge."
Two beamed onto Joseph Campbell's bridge as he turned off the red alert klaxons.
"Greetings, Captain," he said with a wave. Then Samuel walked up to the captain and tried to strike him. But his fist was caught in midair.
Joseph Campbell ordered the visitors to be taken to the brig, "You're in lots of trouble."
In the brig, the prisoners shared a cell. Paris turned to Kissinger and said, "When this is over, you are going to be cleaning floors again."
"Scuttle the new USS Loki," Daniel Swanson stated knowing it was a ship of total peace.
"What about the life aboard?" the first officer asked him. "Dustin Fields is a clone there."
"Then transport the clones to us."
Samuel Paris would retire to civilian life while the ship that rescued him was destroyed. The Loki crew witnessed a 3-D chess match later.
"Faded Darkness"
Dustin Fields was alive. Since he was a clone trained to practice total peace, he was off duty. It was something his natural blood could not bear.
To the brig, Captain Campbell spoke, "Eric, as a marine, I'd like you to remain on the Loki."
"Thanks," the corporal, Eric Kissinger, stated to his superior while repairs were made.
"But, personally, I do not care for you," Joseph Campbell said on the Saladin-class ship.
While the Loki returned to Earth dock, a certain captain was court martialed. Captain Samuel Paris was his name, and he had no ship.
"Let us begin," Joseph said as Star Fleet was on the briefing room viewing screen. "Why did you attempt to strike me in the face?"
"I am Thor!" he began. "I always go for a strike during a mission. It was almost over."
"Star Fleet here," an admiral stated. "This man is obviously drunk. We give him six months."
"Is that it?" Samuel comically inquired. He tore his shirt and surrendered his hands.
"Freedom is good!" he continued. He was taken away as the admiral spoke to the captain.
"The Tholians did this. But since this offence is his second, he's out of uniform forever."
Meanwhile, Dustin Fields began a petition to do away with 3-D chess. It was violent, "Engineer Rush Logan, will you sign my petition?"
"Why?" he asked him. "Oh. It says you want to illegalize 3-D chess on our starship."
He thought about it and said, "No. But you can try the clone I got from our last mission."
He smiled, "Yes! That's a great idea! There are more clones than not on this ship."
Within minutes, the off duty clones signed the document. Then Eric Kissinger came to bully, "Look at you guys. If you can call yourselves that."
"Corporal, could you come with us, please," a team of female officers cried dragging him by the ear. "Let them work. They let you work."
The team of two women, Dede Smith and Gloria Dawson, would take him to a nearby airlock.
In the airlock, he was interrogated, "Why is an army of pacifists a problem for you?"
"It's funny. That's why," he responded. Then the officers turned off the gravity in there.
Eric was scared, "Okay! I surrender!"
"Marine, we want nothing less than for you to resign," Gloria said as tactical officer.
"Yes!" the former corporal replied. He saw the captain walking by and cried out to him.
"Help!" he iterated while floating. The airlock came with a timer that had started just then.
Captain Campbell reacted quickly, "What did a corporal in the marines do this time?"
"I resign, Captain," he told him. "I've gone too far. I see now. Please let me out of here."
"Before we do," his captain told him, "I want to tell you that I only bully in the line of duty. And I've been known to apologize afterwards."
"Let him out," Joseph said to Dede and Gloria as the three walked away from the airlock. Later, he discovered Eric worked better as a cook.
Nearby clones reacted to the order, "Let me help you, sir. Would you like to have a drink?"
"One minute," he began to ask. "Are you of the other starship from the other mission?"
"Yes, Captain Joseph Campbell," the two spoke as his arms were around the both of them.
"I don't understand," he stated. "I thought your mission was one of total peace."
"It is, sir," Dede and Gloria replied. "But it's the first week of the month, and he angered us."
The captain stopped in his tracks to think for a moment. He inquired, "Would you ladies like to come to my cabin to learn to play 3-D chess?"
"I don't see why not," they responded. So the captain moved to a nearby intercom.
He told the crew, "Every officer must teach a clone how to play 3-D chess until they realize it is not as violent as it appears to be."
Dustin Fields was made security chief for the creation of the petition. He was very happy to learn that 3-D chess was never meant to harm.
"Delete Ignorance"
The cook on the starship Loki worked better as someone out of uniform. But he still swore to be the captain. He would try his best soon.
Soon came quickly, "Eric! This is the all-time nastiest meal I've ever tasted in my life."
"Are you trying to poison us?" another said in the lounge. "I am going back to rations. Yuck!"
This was too much to handle. Eric Kissinger gave up his profession to take over the ship. His plan was to drive the ship from the holodeck.
"May I sign up for holodeck time?" he asked an officer. "It will be my very first time ever."
When the time came, he took with him a palm sized transistor unit to help his plan.
On the bridge, the science officer saw that an illegal use of power had taken place right after the ship had launched from Earth dock.
"Captain," Daniel Swanson spoke, "power has been diverted away from the ship's helm."
"This is going to be difficult at warp," the helm stated. "Shall I reduce speed to impulse?"
Captain Joseph Campbell replied, "Where is the source of the course correction?"
In the holodeck, the marine turned cook had no power other than over movement, "Captain, this is the ultimate revenge. The ship is mine."
All key officers on the Saladin-class ship were in the briefing room. It was a private talk.
"Security," Joseph asked, "is it possible for the marines on this ship to break the door?"
"No, Captain," was the response. "If we did, the entire starship would turn into a holodeck."
"Yes, Captain. That's an engineering truth if you factor in the hull safety protocols."
Captain Campbell added, "Then we'll beam him out using the ship's emergency power."
They would all head to their stations. This was not good. Clones already had the bridge.
"Did you forget so soon?" Eric Kissinger said to his captain. "You said you had proof that 3-D chess came without any violence or harm to anyone."
"Then you raped my whole crew."
"I am only trying to make you understand," the captain said. "An army of pacifists in uniform have no business on the field of battle."
"Joseph," Eric Kissinger smiled, "we can battle an enemy as easily as we can battle you."
He looked around, "Wait a second. You guys are all the ones loyal to this... marine corporal! Where is my crew? Can anyone tell me that?"
Owi-Ben said to the captain, "On my honor, it's factual to say we left them at Earth dock."
He captured the Star Fleet vessel with no loss of life. The new captain had to think.
At the brig, Daniel spoke to Eric, "How can we dispose of the old crew of this destroyer?"
There was a long pause.
"I know," Daniel Swanson smiled. "Give them to the enemy. We passed a Klingon base station."
It was a great idea. Running to the bridge, the crew of total peace could go anywhere.
Captain Campbell had Kissinger just where he wanted. He told a guard, "May I have a device to communicate with, so I can listen to music?"
"That sounds like a capital idea."
Captain Joseph Campbell hailed the Klingons first. They trusted him because of his rank.
"Klingon station," he started, "do we have your authorization to return to our space?"
"If you will notice, you have a handful of men on your ship. Soldiers will be beamed over."
"I have a better idea," Joseph said. "Keep the clone prisoners while we trade sides."
The base asked him, "Why?"
"Because the Federation isn't fair," the captain continued. "They kill defective babies."
It followed a pause, "Then we will give you a new flag to fly under. And our best soldiers."
"Under one condition," he said. "Cross out the rather unheroic name of this ship."
"What, if anything, should we put there?"
He told them. It was done. They crossed out the name Loki and put Thor in red paint. His people were not forced to be involved in its new future.
"Last Command"
He was being whipped. Eric Kissinger was in the marine uniform he had as a cook. It took place on the base station he was beamed to.
"Answer me!" a Klingon guard stated. "Why are civilians like you dressed like marines?"
Still being whipped, Eric started, "I am only the cook. This is my only set of clothes."
"Sir!" it was said to the guard. "He's not lying to us. Joseph Campbell sent us data on him."
Eric Kissinger would be thrown into a shuttle and launched into deep space. He did not want to run out of oxygen, "USS Loki, help me."
"Campbell here," the captain replied. "You are to pilot your shuttle towards us for a rescue."
He was alive. Brushing off Klingons, he ran to the bridge and struck Joseph in the face.
A fight took place, and the angered marine took the chair according to Klingon law, "Take it to the Klingons if anyone feels bad about this."
He got blood on the chair, "Put Joseph in the brig and clear the bridge of all Klingons."
Later, Eric would confront the captain with him in the brig. A force field separated the two.
"First of all, you are a traitor," the new captain stated. "Second, how do we ditch the Klingons?"
A Klingon walked by as he said it. He chose to do nothing in response. It scared him.
With a whisper, the former captain gave him an idea, "You could beam them into space."
There was a pause. Then Eric Kissinger told the former captain, "I am not doing this."
"You must," Joseph Campbell replied. "Save the entire skeleton crew from this madness."
"Just let me finish," he began. "I'm not going to do this. You are going to do this. You will contact the engineer on my communicator and tell him."
"Oh," the officer stated into a communicator as the ship entered warp to get home.
"Rush Logan, secretly transport every Klingon soldier off this ship. It will be my final order."
"Did you hear that?" Eric spoke into his little communicator to finalize that very order.
Eric Kissinger arrived at sickbay. Care had to be taken. He was tracking blood everywhere.
"Nurse, could you find something to clean this red stuff up with," Doctor Smith spoke.
"I believe it's called blood," the patient said as he sat down. "I was whipped by Klingons. The base station saw me as a marine in my uniform."
The Loki returned back to Earth dock. After a celebration in their honor, the admiralty wished to converse with the two on the matter.
"Eric Kissinger, I have never had to discipline you under my command. You are a good marine."
The admiral turned to Joseph, "But you. Are the Klingons floating in space on your order?"
"In truth," he started, "it was Corporal Kissinger's idea. He wanted me to be responsible."
The admiral smiled, "Eric, I am going to give a medal to your whole crew. According to Federation law and jurisdiction, you are the captain."
He jumped into the air crying, "Yes! Yes! I have achieved my first goal. I'm a captain!"
Captain Kissinger was happy enough to clean the blood he had tracked through the corridor.
"Captain Campbell, do you know why you are in this courtroom?" a judge said onto him.
"Was it something I said?" Joseph stated. "Am I to be condemned for things I said in battle?"
Memory chips were brought out, "Evidence has been found that is not to be spoken of. You told the enemy of our treatment of children?"
"Well, it's true," he said in his defense. "You do murder defective babies. I did not tell a lie."
"That's not the charge," he began. "You sold the starship Loki to the Klingons out of fear."
He was silent. Then he thought, "I would like to change my plea to guilty. Please punish me."
"Captain Eric Kissinger," one inquired, "are you ready for the adventure of your life?"
He responded, "I am not really sure."
The Loki was prepared for its voyage towards the distant reaches of the unknown. In fact, he was ready for anything life could throw at him.
The End