Danny Amor's Online Library/Danny Amor's Online Library - Volume 1.iso/html/startrek/old-incomplete/nosushi.p1

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From: [e-mail] (Armin Lenz)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: STORY: NO SUSHI
Date: 19 May 1993 09:58:05 GMT
Organization: University of Karlsruhe, FRG
Lines: 514
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: irau32.ira.uka.de
Keywords: spinoff TNG

Like many others I am fond of the Enterprise and her crew and especially of the
Star Trek universe that they act in. But as a matter of fact, there is no way
to keep track of the story and most of the details that make up the charms of
the series - pretty obviously if you sit here in Germany looking at the re-run
of 'The Dauphin' these days ... and no episode after 'Captain's Holiday' ever
broadcasted. (I really wish to go where no one has gone before)

So another spin-off (or better spin-along). This time aboard the USS Forward
under Captain Jeffrey Clayton (Rikers fictitious ex-roommate at the academy),
a research ship (Advanced Technology Experimental Vessel - ATEV) used to test
and field improve Warp Drive.

Since English is not my native language and this is the first and hopefully
improvable writing-probe ever launched be free to criticise style or content.

>> Cut here if ever <<

This story copyrighted 1993 by Armin Lenz.
Feel free to distribute via all electronic media for non-commercial purposes.
Standard disclaimers to protect the innocent and Paramount Pictures are valid.
If you sell it you pay for it. This way or another..


No Sushi

Part I


USS Forward ATEV-NCC 4881 C - Captain's Log
After hastily finishing the most urgent repairs after our recent accident at
Starbase 84 we are now en route to the Pelegas Solar System. We have been
ordered to take aboard two supplemental antimatter chambers for new and
(hopefully) improved attempts on our warp experiment. I expect it to be
as adventurous as the last one but not as detrimental.

  "Captain, message coming in", the communications officer announced. She was a
rather small brunette in her early twenties, a single pip on her collar.

  "On screen, Ensign." Captain Clayton looked up from his console, quitting log
entry.

  "Greetings, Captain Clayton." The familiar, smiling face of Commander William
T. Riker appeared on screen.

  "Will, nice to see you. What's up ?", the Captain asked, looking pleased to
hear from his old academy roommate.

  "We are on our way to Starbase 84 to deliver a passenger who will complete
your crew, as far as I have been told. We heard you departed Eightyfour
yesterday but I guess you still would like to take him aboard and not leave him
there until you are back."

  "What passenger ? As far as _I_ know, we are expecting nobody to join us." He
glanced around the bridge, but his first officer currently supervised work in
engineering.

  "It's Lieutenant-Commander Klad'k Nigh'Dar, former chief of engineering on the
Valley Forge. Following his orders he is to be your new second officer."

  "Fascinating, a true and hard-to-the-core defence force engineer. Exactly what
I need on this ship. Who put him in my backpack ? I feel so lost sometimes
you know, Will ? Nobody tells me about what to expect next from Starfleet
Command", Clayton sighed.

  "Keep on smiling, Jeffrey", Riker smirked, "it's just the weight of the fourth
pip, you know ?"

  "Stop smirking, Riker and tell me the coordinates to rendez-vous", Clayton
growled in mocked anger. Then his face lit up and he smiled a boyish grin
"Tell Picard I really would have enjoyed to meet him at Eightyfour, I still
owe him revenge. And take a drink at Luvanna's, she knows it will be on my
bill - as usual."

  "Transmitting coordinates. We'll see you in one hour 43 minutes. Riker out."
The screen went blank and then back to starfield, slowly floating by.

  "Lieutenant DiFalco, lay in new course. Calculate speed to reach destination
in one hour forty minutes. Set this speed and engage."

  "Aye, Sir. Speed Warp 6.6 - engaged." The starfield jumped to faster
movement.

  "You have the bridge, Mr. DiFalco, I'll be down in engineering." Captain
Clayton went up and entered the lift.

***

  "No. This part fits into this one. This ain't difficult to see, is it ? So
put it in there, ok ? Why can't I get no real engineers down here ? I would be
glad even to get a mere technician with a little brains. Crap !"
Jeffrey Clayton stepped out of the lift right into one of those well-feared
monologues of his second in command, Lieutenant-Commander Woodrow Hartley, also
known to his subordinates as 'Screwdriver'. Ensign Malloy unsuccessfully
tried to merge with his environment when he recognised his captain approaching.

  "Ensign Malloy ... dismissed", he said. He stood motionless until the young
and freshly scolded officer disappeared. "Mr. Hartley we are heading
towards a rendezvous with the Enterprise to take over our new chief of
engineering and third in command. Is there anything I should know before
we meet ?", he asked briskly.

  "Chief of engineering ? Dammit. Didn't I tell you, sir ? They won't send a
first officer, they send another engineer", he said.

  "Well, that's fate, Mr. Hartley. But I really would like to know whether
anyone aboard this ship has been informed upon this fact. I don't like to
be told such important news one hour before we encounter the man himself."

  "In fact, sir, I was aware of something like that coming up. You know, sir,
one of my buddies on Eightyfour ..."

  "Nothing official ? No _lost_ message again ?"

  "Hell, no. Sir. I would have told you immediately."

  "Mr. Hartley. I am sure we can get along fine, as long as you keep your hands
out of engineering and work as my first officer only. Our new crewmember
will be here soon and it will be _his_ duty to perform down here."

  "Aye, aye, Captain", the tall engineer answered, contrition on his face, in
his voice and heart.

  "I'll see you in Transporter Room 2 at 0120." Captain Clayton said. He glanced
around and walked back to the turbolift.

***

  "No, you're completely wrong. There was nothing at all. This would be no
concern of yours anyway, Lieutenant !". Ensign Fariano's voice growled in deep
anger, remarkable for a woman her grace and usual composure.

  "Listen, Christine, I didn't mean no harm. It's only, you know, I care and I
don't think he's good for you, I think ..."

  "You care but I don't care what you think about _my_ affairs. Simply keep your
trap shut. Thanks a lot, Mister Lieutenant Sir."

  "Well, I am content if both of you care for the affairs of your duties," the
voice of their captain said as he stepped out of the lift. DiFalco jumped
almost upright out of command seat and hurried back to his console, his face
pale. Ensign Fariano blushed deeply and tried to hide her embarrassment under a
cover of business, almost feeling the disapproving gaze that swept the bridge.

  "Nothing to report, Captain", Lt. DiFalco said after a few painful seconds of
silence, "still one hour 10 minutes to rendezvous."

  "Thank you Mr. DiFalco." He sat down in his chair, keeping his temper between
amusement and mild irritation. Was he condemned to conduct a ship of fools ?
Ever since the fatal accident that killed nine of his crewmembers things tended
to go whoopee. He had to put an eye on his crew as well as on the repair of his
ship. And as well he had to put an eye on himself. Don't let yourself slip into
fatigue ol'buddy ! He touched the panel.

  "Lt. M'Dane ?" he asked.

  "Sir ?" the intercom asked.

  "How far did you get with your calibrations ? I would like sensors to be back
on line one hour from now, if possible. We'll meet the Enterprise and I want us
at least _seem_ to be operational."

  "One minute, please, I have to fix this one first. Well one hour, uh ? I guess
it will be possible to get most of it back to work, sir. But this is no
promise. So far, I'll try my best to tame the beast."

  "Thank you, Ms. M'Dane. I didn't expect less from you. Clayton out."

***

USS Forward ATEV-NCC 4881 C - Captain's Log * Supplemental
We are to meet the Enterprise any minute now to take aboard our new Chief of
Engineering. His first work will be neither research nor experimenting on our
refitted warp drives but mere skilful work to bring this ship back to full
operational status.
Scanners are still off-line, subspace-drive is limited to Warp 7, no weapons
are available and energy is still limited to non-nominal output unless our new
antimatter chambers can be installed.

Captain's Log - Private
It's amazing how Starbase Drydock messed my ship up in no time at all. Lt.Cmdr.
Hartley is doing fine work down in engineering. I am not content with
Starfleet's decision to send me another engineer instead of an experienced
executive officer but there is nothing I can do about this unless we return to
Starbase 84 about four weeks from now. Hell, I wish Phil would be still with us.

***

  "Sir, Enterprise reports one to beam aboard"

  "Energise, Lieutenant."

  The air above the transporter pad started to glow and sparkle then went solid
and revealed the slender figure of an Andorian. He opened his eyes and his
antennas came to life.

  "Captain Clayton, I am Lieutenant-Commander Klad'k Nigh'Dar", he said with a
surprisingly low pitched voice. In fact he had the lowest voice Clayton had
ever heard from an Andorian.

  "Welcome aboard, Commander Nigh'Dar. This is my first officer, Lieutenant-
Commander Hartley and this is Chief Velasquez. I hope you can reveal the
secret of your unannounced assignment to the USS Forward", Clayton smiled.
The Andorian twitched his antennas with surprise and alacrity.

  "Well, in fact this is exactly _my_ first question, Sir. I have been ordered
to leave my former assignment, get here as fast as possible and report to the
Captain - that means you."

  "We have no further information yet. We had not this much information until
you told us, to be true. There must be either a secret about this ...", he
took an appraising look at the Andorian, "... or a mistake by a mistaken
bureaucrat." Another twitch of antennas, perhaps of anger, perhaps of amusement.

  "Anyway, there is no time to figure this out until we reach Starbase 84 on our
way _back_ from Pelegas. Once again - welcome aboard. Mr. Hartley informs you
about our current technical status and Ms. Velasquez will lend you a helping
hand in searching your new quarters. Please report to the bridge after that."
The last sentence he spoke only to Lt.Cmdr. Hartley who stood anticipating to
discuss matters of deep and engineering concern.

***

  "Sensors are back on line, Captain."

  "Thank you Lt. M'Dane, good work. But now Picard won't be impressed by our
outstanding sensor performance."

  "They will be impressed when we outrun them next time we meet. Who cares
about sensors then ?" asked DiFalco.

  "Spaceway Police" murmured the neat Communication officer but no one seemed to
hear it.

  "I'll be in my quarters. Your bridge, Lt. DiFalco."

***

   "Subspace communications will be fully functional within this shift."

   "Good. How long to increase power output to nominal?" Hartley asked.

   "Three to four days if it's our only duty. And I would greatly appreciate
your helping hand, Sir", Lt.Cmdr. Nigh'Dar proposed.

  "I ain't know whether our Captain will agree. He's not to fond of me working
down here instead of monitoring the bridge. I'll have to ask him first."

  Nigh'Dar twisted his antennas. Where had he been moved into ?

  "What can you tell me about our crew, Sir, if I dare to ask ?"

  "Crew ? Nice guys and gals ! It's a pity you ain't come to know old Cmdr.
Flagg. He was your predecessor. Got killed three weeks ago together with our
first officer. It's a real shame, we've been friends for years."

  "I didn't hear of that before."

  "It's confidential since it happened during our last test mission. One of
the chamber field generators failed in mid-warp and the nacelle had to be
jettisoned. The explosion nearly destroyed the ship and those poor guys..."

  "Oh. I see. For what reason did it fail?"

  "It was a puny design error. The field structure ain't strong enough to bear
the peak pressure inside the reaction chamber, generators overloaded and that's
that."

  "Why didn't you find out about that before?"

  "Listen. There ain't no way to find out before you try them. This is an
experimental vessel and if there is a way to discover those errors without
trying you would most probably do. Would be cheaper and less lethal", Hartley
said with impatience.

  "Most probable. Yes, Sir. Anything else?" Nigh'Dar cautiously asked.

  "Anything? We had no time to do much repair in drydock. They gave us a new
warp nacelle, time to fit it and do those containment field generator
modifications. Then they pushed us out again. Next will be power rerouting
for our weapon systems and we have to prepare for putting in those new reaction
chambers and then ..."

  Nigh'Dar twitched his antennas.

***

  Silence and darkness surrounded it. Slow pulsing energy floated through
the hot glowing core of it's giant heart. Graceful, silent movement through cold
oceans of nothing and dust. Showing the black of it's hull to the light of a
red dying star. Waiting. Hunting. Lurking for prey.

***

  "Since you are new to this ship and crew I suppose you would like to hear a
brief description of our staff personnel and current orders. Lt. M'Dane?"

  "Cmdr. Nigh'Dar, I am Lt. Jessica M'Dane, Senior Officer at OPS. This is Lt.
Sebastian DiFalco, Senior Navigator, Dr. Elmer Proudfoot, Medical Officer and
Lt. Oliver Clay-Walker, Head of Security." Nigh'Dar stood up and gave each of
them a short reverence. Then he sat down again.
  "I suppose you already met Cmdr. Hartley and Chief Velasquez. We've got an
extra Communications Officer as well, Ensign Fariano, who has the bridge now."

  Hartley continued: "We are supposed to test and improve prototype warp drives,
our current goal is to achieve Warp 9.8 stable maximum permanent speed and Warp
9.96 emergency speed. This goal ain't yet been reached."

  "In fact we still remain at Warp 9.35 permanent and Warp 9.58 emergency speed
at a low level of risk. That was before we had to return to Starbase 84",
Clayton said, "We shall achieve further improvement after remoulding our
reaction chamber configuration. As a matter of fact we are en route to a long
time scheduled date at Pelegas Research Facility to make it so. Since their time
is supposed most valuable and work is already prepared we must be in time at all
circumstances."

  "And therefore you had no time for further drydock repairs at Eightyfour", the
Andorian suggested.

  "Exactly, Commander", Clayton said, "and you, Mr. Hartley and Ms. M'Dane are
on duty to compensate for this on the fly. I am sorry but this means double
shifts. Please keep me informed. Dismissed." He went up and through the door in
one swift movement.

  "Excuse me, Commander", Lt. M'Dane said, "but I suppose your name isn't quite
typical for an Andorian?"

  "You are right", the tall blue humanoid answered, amusement in his deep voice
and antenna movement, "it is a rather long and complicated story to tell and I
would be glad to fill you in sometime after work if that is okay with you."

  "We have to run double shifts", she smiled, "you really want to spend your
valuable spare time with someone you hardly know and tell your life story?"

  "It will always be most valuable to know more about each other, Lieutenant",
he answered, "a fact I assume to be one of Starfleet's fundaments."

  "We ain't here to discuss philosophy, are we?" Hartley interrupted, "I would
be happy to meet both of you ..."

  "Down in engineering", both finished his sentence. Jessica found herself
surprisingly easy distracted from duty.

***

USS Forward - ATEV-NCC 4881 C - Captain's Log
Five weeks after our disastrous accident we are fully operational again. I am
impressed by the work our crew did down in engineering. Mr. Nigh'Dar is a good
choice as their Chief. We are still left without information dealing with his
transfer. I will continue requesting.

Captain's Log - Private
I start to get mad at Starfleet Command. They didn't acknowledge that there
even exists someone called Nigh'Dar. I feel urged to kick someone's special
place. I am composed by his obvious capabilities and silence from Enterprise
security.

***

  "Twelve minutes to Pelegas Research Facility", Lt. M'Dane announced.

  "On screen."

  "On screen, Sir."

  "I really would like to have better sensors aboard this ship, Lt.", Cpt.
Clayton said, "if we ever succeed in our mission, you'll have to remind me
to make Starfleet consider this."

  "It might be a good idea to have more information about what lies in our
path at high velocities", Cmdr. Hartley mused.

  "Exactly, Mr. Hartley. I don't like the idea of running into some debris at
full warp. That would be _too_ spectacular."

  "Pelegas Research Facility is hailing us, Captain."

  "On Screen, Ensign."

  "I am Dr. Robert Finch, Administrator of the PRF. You are just in time,
USS Forward."

  "As we are supposed to be, Administrator. I am Captain Clayton. Does your
schedule allow a brief rendezvous to discuss your further plans dealing
with my ship?"

  "Of course, Captain. I would like you to meet you in my bureau, if you don't
mind."

  "I'll take my Chief of Engineering with me. We'll be there in five minutes."

  "Understood. Finch out." The screen returned to front view, Pelegas closing
in.

  "Mr. DiFalco, Standard orbit", Cmdr. Hartley said.

  "Standard orbit, aye."

  "Ensign Fariano, please inform Mr. Nigh'Dar to meet me at Transporter Room 1.
Commander, you have the bridge."

  "Good luck, Sir. Don't let them take the Forward apart."

  "Thank you, Mr. Hartley. I will be aware of your suggestion. It took us long
enough to put her together."

***

  "Stop. Fix it there, Mr. Malloy." A enormous part of heavy equipment slowly
moved into it's proper place. Ensign Malloy hurried to push tritanium bolts into
openings.

  "Fine. Now another measurement."

  "Twentyfive point two zero six. Nine point three five three"

  "That's within second level tolerance. We'll keep it this way. You may lock it
there, but keep an eye on that gauge. We don't want it to shift."

  "Aye, Sir." Lt.Cmdr. Nigh'Dar touched his com-badge.

  "Commander, we've fixed reaction chamber one now."

  "Thank you, Mr. Nigh'Dar. I want you to come over here to take a look at our
measurement, too."

  "On my way, Sir. Nigh'Dar out." He turned to Ensign Malloy. "Please run
another measurement when you are done and put those values into engineering
log, Mr. Malloy. I'll be at auxiliary engineering."

  "Sir." Frederick Malloy didn't look up. He worked like a maniac for hours
now.

  "Mr. Malloy ?", the Andorian asked. Malloy looked up. "Sir ?"

  "Good work, Ensign. You can take it a little _slower_ now."

***

  Turbolift 4 opened it's doors and a tired looking Captain Clayton appeared.

  "Ready for supervision, Sir", Lt.Cmdr. Hartley announced. Clayton nodded. He
touched panels and looked on almost every bolt and screw he could find, his
testing gaze betraying his obvious fatigue. Finally he turned to his crew,
standing in front of him, spent but proud of their work. He looked at them
with gravity for a moment then he said: "As far as I can judge your work,
you did more in short time than I could have demanded. To put our skills to
a complete test we'll have to run her out there." He waved his hand to nowhere
special. Then his serious face turned to a smile.

  "You all look as tired as you must feel. Mr. Nagh'Dar will have to figure out
who to be on next shift. Sleep well, everybody. Dismissed." They started a
silent murmur splitting up in groups of two or three, disappearing into the
dimness of engineering.

  "Sir?" Lt.Cmdr. Hartley asked.

  "Mhhm? Er, yes, Commander ?" Clayton said, distracted from reading the
engineering log.

  "We're running on auxiliary power from impulse generator now. It'll take a
little time to put them warp engines on line. When do you expect us to be en
route again?"

  "We are three hours ahead of our original time plan, Mr. Hartley. This is
hardly of any major concern now." He looked up into Hartley's eyes. "Good work,
Number One. Now I order you to sleep, ok?"

  "Aye, Sir,", he nodded, "may I suggest the same for you?", a shy grin on his
face.

  "You may, Commander." He heared Clayton, then he turned around and went to
the lift, leaving his captain standing there, bent over a console reading the
final reports.

***

  "Move us out of here, Mr. Thulet. Thrusters only", Lt. DiFalco said. He was
going to enjoy having the bridge.

  "Leaving Pelegas Research Facility, Sir. Thrusters only", Ensign Thulet
repeated. Knowing his senior division officer in his back, his voice sounded a
little shaky.

  "Steady as she goes, Mr. Thulet. Fine."

  "Pelegas Research Facility hailing us, Sir", Christine Fariano reported.

  "One minute. Are we out of dock, Ensign?" DiFalco asked.

  "Clear ... now!" Thulet said.

  "On screen, Ensign Fariano."

  Administrator Finch appeared. "Lieutenant, please convey my congratulations
and good wishes for your further experiments." DiFalco nodded.

  "Of course, administrator. Thank you for your assistance and goodbye."

  "Goodbye, USS Forward. Finch out."

  "Half impulse speed, Ensign. Engage."


(... to be continued ... but don't press fast FORWARD !)

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Armin Lenz    [e-mail]            (preferred)
        [e-mail]
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