Editor's
Note: This story takes place in Earth
year 2369, Star Trek: The Next Generation's sixth season. It marks the transition from the original
23rd century USS Arcturus to the 24th
century USS Arcturus NCC-1807-A, about one year before the launch of the USS
Sarek.
Previously
in Star Trek: Arcturus...
While
on a one year training and exploration mission close to sector 001, the Arcturus NCC-1807 is recalled to Earth, where the crew is informed they are all to be reassigned
to the new starship Arcturus NCC-1807-A, and that their first assignment is to
escort the original Arcturus to the planet Arcturus III, where the
starship was originally built, where it will become a permanent exhibit in the
Fleet Museum complex there.
On
the eve of departure, Vice Admiral Eric Johnson assigns Lieutenant Commander Kalin Kale, his Chief Operations Officer, to command the
older starship on her final voyage.
And now the conclusion...
"Status?"
asked Vice Admiral Johnson from his seat on the bridge of the new starship Arcturus.
"All
systems are functioning, Admiral," relied the voice of Lt Commander Kale
over the bridge speakers. "All
necessary stations are manned and ready.
My science officer computes, at new warp five, it will take twenty hours
and twenty three minutes to reach the Arcturus system
and another two hours and ten minutes to dock at the new museum complex in
orbit of Arcturus III."
Lieutenant
(JG) Setton To'Lock Arbelo, sitting at what would normally be Kale's ops position
aboard the new Arcturus
during Alpha Shift, reported, "Original Arcturus' calculations are
confirmed."
Even
after almost two years in the 24th century, the original crew of the Arcturus still
differentiated between the warp scale they knew and the new scale Starfleet
used that placed the upper limit at warp ten.
As a result, most of the officers still said 'new' when referring to the
speeds, a habit that drove most Starfleet Operations officers that dealt with
them crazy.
"Arcturus
to... I mean, Arcturus-A to Spacedock operations. Requesting departure clearance for ourselves and the original Arcturus," stated Johnson as
he shifted in his command chair.
"Arcturus-Alpha, you and NCC-1807 are cleared for departure," said the male voice of
the dock controller. "Proceed on
thrusters... And bon
voyage."
"Thank
you, operations," came the simultaneous replies
of both Arcturus
commanders.
First,
the large, brand new starship, still an experimental design, fired her
thrusters. slowly propelling the starship toward the
now-open spacedoors.
As the large ship passed through the doors, the smaller, older vessel
fired its own thrusters, propelling her forward as well and eventually out into
open space.
Space, the Final Frontier...
These are the voyages of the starship Arcturus!
Star Trek: Arcturus
"The End?" By PJK
Part II - A New Beginning
The
Arcturus
took up a position on the starboard side of her newer namesake, taking the
escort position, and matching heading and speed started out of the solar
system. As they traveled, first past
Mars, and later Saturn, they were passed and rendered honors by the various
starships on their way toward Earth. As
they passed Titan, one of Saturn's moons and the location of the Academy flight
range, they received an honorary escort from the Academy flight team until both
starships passed beyond the flight range limits.
On
the bridge of the original Arcturus, Kalin Kale sat in the
center seat, reveling in his first command.
His hand-picked crew, mostly his closest shipmates and friends, were
also for the first time the senior officers at their posts. Lieutenant (JG) Idrisu
manned the science console, while Ensign Penji Fil stood watch at the communications station, the last
opportunity he would have at that post.
Aboard the new Arcturus-A, Fil would
transfer to security, the new specialty he trained for at the Academy.
Ensign
Thomas Mack manned the navigator's position, sitting next to Mickey Ku, who in
spite of the fact that she was merely an enlisted crew member, had been
assigned by Kale to the helm, a training session for her eventual entry into
officer training school and an eventual commission.
At
the engineering station next to communications sat Lieutenant Commander T'Veer, a hybrid Vulcan/Terran
woman who was normally Briana Lithir's Assistant
Chief Engineer, where she monitored the Tikopai-class
starship's engines.
"Captain,"
T'Veer said, using the title accorded any ship
commander no matter what their actual rank, the intermix
chamber temperature has risen five hundred degrees Celsius."
"Still
within limits," Kale responded, recalling his limited engineering
knowledge. "But keep me
informed."
"Arcturus-A to Arcturus, prepare to engage warp
drive," ordered Johnson over the subspace radio.
"Crewman
Ku, engage, warp five."
With
a streak like rainbows trailing behind, the original Arcturus achieved warp speed, and
a second later, with a flash of ethereal light, the Arcturus-A followed.
Down
in main engineering aboard the original Arcturus, one of T'Veer's
assistants frowned at a reading on his panel.
He entered a sequence into the engineering computer, which produced a
red flashing warning indicator on the console.
He quickly pressed the intercom.
"Engineering to Commander T'Veer. We have a problem."
*
* * *
Aboard
Arcturus-A, Security Chief David Maddox called
for Johnson's attention.
"Admiral,
the Arcturus
is dropping back."
On
the viewscreen, the new Arcturus seemed to be moving
closer to the original Arcturus,
which eventually passed and fell behind the larger 24th century starship.
"Dave,
open hailing frequencies," ordered Johnson, a concerned look on his
face. After a moment the frequency
chimed.
"Arcturus, this is
Admiral Johnson. Why are you falling
behind?"
After
a few seconds of interference noise, Kale's heavily distorted voice came
through the speakers.
"Hold on .
....nt, Admiral. We're .. the mid... .. a real ...blem over h..."
Suddenly
the Arcturus
dropped out of warp, disappearing from view.
"Full
stop!" ordered Johnson as he walked down the command arena steps and stood
near Arbelo.
"Turn us around. Monster,
scan for the Arcturus!"
"Scanning,"
reported Arbelo.
As
the Arcturus-A turned back around to reverse course,
without warning, a bright flash appeared on the viewscreen,
expanding as it dimmed.
"Admiral,
sensors are registering an antimatter detonation," reported Arbelo.
"Location is the same as the last known coordinates of the original
Arcturus."
"Galen,
set course for those coordinates," Johnson ordered the Avalonian
conn officer. "Fastest possible speed, engage!"
The
Arcturus-A sped off at full impulse, reaching
the designated coordinates in less than ten minutes. There was no sign of the older starship.
"Scanning
for any sign of the Arcturus,"
reported Arbelo.
After a moment, he looked up at Johnson, a sad look in his eyes. "Admiral, I am detecting debris in the
vicinity, in an expanding pattern. As
far as I can tell, the Arcturus
has been destroyed. There are no life
signs present, and no indications of escape pods or life boats."
Johnson
turned away from the screen, his face down toward the deck, as he said,
"Understood."
*
* *
*
"We
have no idea what happened," reported Vice Admiral Eric Johnson to Admiral
Thomas Henry, head of Starfleet Security as the Arcturus-A warped toward Arcturus III. Johnson shook his head in despair. "All we currently know is the Arcturus dropped
out of warp just after informing us they were experiencing some problem. Before we could react, before we even managed
to turn around to render assistance, the Arcturus was destroyed in what my
operations officer terms 'an uncontrolled antimatter reaction.' All we know for sure is that the Arcturus and her
crew of fifty are gone."
"That's
what Starfleet has thought before," Henry said wryly. "What is your current status?"
"We
are currently proceeding at warp seven toward the Arcturus
system. If nothing else, we can explain
to the Museum Director what happened."
"Even
though you aren't sure what happened yourself?" remarked Henry.
Johnson
sat still for a moment, his emotions finally getting the best of him.
"What
would you have us do, Admiral? We can't
just sit around mourning our friends and shipmates. We have to start an investigation. I just lost fifty good people, some of whom I
depend on to run my starship. And this
may be more than a simple engine problem.
It could be sabotage!"
Henry
considered Johnson's words for a moment before replying, "Unlikely, but we
will take it under advisement." As
Henry cut the channel, Johnson slammed his fist on his new ready room desk. Athena Arcadian stepped into the ready room
just in time to witness the display of anger.
As he sat behind the desk, his face in his hands, Arcadian walked around
behind him and started massaging his neck.
After a minute of appreciating the massage, Johnson looked up at his
fiancée’s face.
"Kale,
T'Veer, Mack, Idrisu, Coppens, Barrush, forty four
others... All gone. Why?
What happened back there, Athena?
What went wrong?"
"We
may never find out, Eric. We may never
find out. I came in to tell you that Arbelo and I are organizing a memorial service for when we
reach Arcturus III.
We would like you to say a few words."
Johnson
nodded quietly before saying, "I'll prepare something. I'll be ready before we dock."
Arcadian
nodded, and after giving Johnson a kiss on the cheek, left.
*
* * *
A
majority of the crew of the USS Arcturus NCC-1807-A was gathered in the largest
auditorium at the planetside facility of the Kuha Keihasalm
Shipyard. Vice Admiral Eric Johnson
was at the podium, reading off the names of the crew lost aboard the original Arcturus."
"...Science
Officer Lieutenant Idrisu of Delta IV, Engineer
Lieutenant Commander T'Veer of Vulcan, and finally
Acting-Captain Kalin Kale of Alpha Centauri. They gave their lives in the performance of
their duties, and their names will be entered into the record as performing
above and beyond the call of duty. A
memorial, inscribed with their names, will be erected at this very
ship..."
Unexpectedly,
Johnson's combadge beeped for attention. The admiral tried to ignore it.
"...This
very shipyard, to commemorate the final voyage..."
Again,
Johnson's combadge beeped, this time followed by a
voice.
"Admiral
Johnson, this is Captain Solak. Sensors are detecting a ship approaching
orbit."
Johnson,
looking annoyed, tried to speak low, away from the podium microphone, as he
angrily said, "I'm in the middle of our memorial service for our lost
shipmates, Solak.
Whatever is happening, I'm sure it can be handled without me."
"But,
Admiral," said Solak, sounding as pleading as a
Vulcan could. "I'm positive you
will want to deal with this situation personally. I'm switching this channel over to the
approaching ship."
"Solak, no, wait...!" Johnson started to protest before
a new voice started speaking through the communicator, sounding loud enough for
the microphone to pick up.
"Sorry
we're late for the memorial service, but we got here as fast as we could."
A
confused look crossed Johnson's face as he recognized the voice.
"Kalin?! But... how? What happened?"
"We're
entering standard orbit one thousand meters away from the Arcturus-A right now. T'Veer, a guest and I will beam down to your present
location in five minutes. Arcturus, out."
By
now, the entire gathered crowd had heard the exchange and were talking or
hugging one another. Somehow, the Arcturus had beat
fate again.
Five
minutes later, the shimmer of an old-style transporter formed near the podium
and Lt Commanders Kale and T'Veer materialized,
accompanied by a squat humanoid with dark brown skin covered by a silvery
uniform no one in the gathering had ever seen before.
"Admiral
Johnson, this is Captain Seenkew of the Aurelli Confederacy, which is located beyond Typerias," Kale said, indicating the short alien.
"Pleased
to meet you," Johnson said warily as Seenkew
bowed. Turning toward Kale, the admiral
then asked, "How did he get aboard the Arcturus? And what happened to you out there?"
"Apparently
as we departed the Terran solar system, the Arcturus picked
up a 'hitchhiker.' Captain Seenkew's ship, which was called the Choortee, was equipped with a
cloaking device more advanced then even the Klingon's have.
According to Captain Seenkew, they attached
themselves to the lower hull of the Arcturus because they were in need of serious repair, and
they had intercepted some of our communications indicating we were heading
toward a shipyard and wanted our help."
"But
you had some sort of trouble? We saw the
Arcturus
blow up!"
"Yes,
we did have trouble, but it was due to the fact that the Choortee had attached itself to
the hull right underneath the antimatter pods.
Their engine emissions caused our intermix chamber to overheat. We were in the process of tracking down the
cause of that problem when Ensign Lawrence in engineering finally detected the Choortee on the
hull and informed the bridge. We made
contact with Captain Seenkew and beamed him and his
crew of twenty aboard the Arcturus just in time to detach the Choortee from our hull before
their containment system failed. The
explosion you witnessed was the Choortee."
"But
we searched the sector for the Arcturus afterward.
There was no sign of you!" Johnson said, still somewhat confused.
"In
order to avoid the blast," said T'Veer. "The Arcturus had to warp back on the
course from which we came. In the
process, due to the higher intermix temperature, we
damaged the warp engines slightly. The
maximum speed we could attain was warp three.
The Arcturus-A proceeded out of range before we
could send a message."
"You
and your zooming off at warp seven," Kale said
mockingly.
"Well... How were we to know?" the admiral
replied sheepishly.
"You
could have conducted a more thorough search," Kale replied.
Johnson
blushed as he said, "Well, you've completed your mission, and delivered
the Arcturus
to the planet, and made a first contact to boot. Congratulations, Commander."
*
* * *
The
ceremony began as the Arcturus
entered her permanent dock position just outside the Fleet Shipyard orbiting Arcturus III. Vice
Admiral Johnson and his senior staff, as well as the members of Arcturus III's government, Starfleet brass and a selection
of private citizens who donated the credits for the new permanent mooring were
gathered on the bridge of the original Arcturus. Kalin Kale, assisted by two technicians, placed a new
dedication plaque on the bulkhead next to the viewscreen
to replace the one that had 'mysteriously disappeared.'
U.S.S. ARCTURUS
*Starfleet Registry NCC-1807*
First Starship to Bear the Name
*Built at this shipyard during Earth Year
2272*
Vice Admiral Eric W. Johnson, Final
Commanding Officer
A Permanent Exhibit of the
Dedicated This Stardate
46010
The
End
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