Star Trek®: Strange New Worlds 10

by Dean Wesley Smith

  “But it’s affecting our technology like it never has before. Last time, it shut down half the planet for a whole day. This time was even worse—despite our taking precautions. Captain, if we can’t find a way to block the effects, we’ll be destroyed. Millions, if not tens of millions, will die. Our transportation, power, and communication grids will be shut down, we won’t be able to distribute food, hospitals will be ineffective. Our whole infrastructure will crash.

  “Our technology isn’t designed to be shut off for one out of every six days. It can’t work that way. We’re implementing what changes we can, as fast as we can, but the death count by the time we can adapt…it will be staggering. And our culture will be thrown back to a pre-technological era.”

  The last thing Kirk had expected was such an entreaty from an “easy” diplomatic mission. “How can we help?” he asked.

  “Our preparations were hasty, as you can no doubt imagine, but we have five science ships ready. Almost ready, that is. We intend to have them stay on your side of the curtain. That will give them plenty of time to solve the problem. We hope. But because the preparations were so rushed, any help you can provide would be very welcome. Plus, from our perspective, the astro-political situation over there changes so rapidly, well, we have no idea where the ships would be safe. If you could suggest a location where we would not bother anyone, or be bothered, that would also be greatly appreciated.”

  “Of course. But Gaemes, anyone who stays, doesn’t that mean…? I don’t know how long you live, but…” Kirk couldn’t think of any nonpainful way to phrase the question.

  “That’s right, Captain. All of us who volunteered realize we’ll be very old when we see home again, if we ever do.”

  “You’ll be aboard?”

  “That’s right. Along with five hundred of our best young scientists. I’m proud to say we had many more volunteers than we could use. But we ran out of time to gather more ships or more equipment. And plenty of crisis management will be needed on Nalyn itself.”

  The five ships, each with its own distinct shape, arrayed themselves around the Enterprise and out of range when Nalyn disappeared. One reminded Kirk of a huge gray bat, another brown vessel was wedge-shaped. The largest, a blue disk twice the diameter of the Enterprise’s main hull, simply looked like a flying saucer. A silver ship looked like its little sister, and the last craft looked like green spheres that had been glopped haphazardly together.

  Kirk felt like he was shepherding a rag-tag fleet.

  “Captain, I have a reply from Admiral Stone. He concurred with your recommendation and says Starfleet can increase ship traffic in this sector to check in on the Nalynians.” Uhura’s voice sounded somber, no doubt out of empathy for those people willing to never see home again. “And he says they’ll dispatch a science team to assist.”

  “Thank you, Lieutenant. Please send an acknowledgment.”

  The neighboring star system was two light-years away, uninhabited, and appeared to be free of any dimensional tears or other natural hazards. Kirk had suggested to Gaemes that they could set up their research center there.

  “The lead ship is hailing us, sir,” Uhura said as she transferred Gaemes to the main viewer.

  Although Kirk couldn’t be sure due to the unusual complexion, he thought Gaemes looked paler than usual. Beneath the determined set to the other man’s face, Kirk detected sadness.

  “Thank you, Captain. We’re setting course for the coordinates you provided. Hopefully we’ll have a solution ready long before the rift reopens. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even find a way to cross the barrier sooner, as you said.”

  Jean-Luc Picard sat at his desk perusing the report on the computer screen in front of him. Like most Starfleet officers, he’d never heard of the Brigadoon Project. Until now, he’d had no reason to be familiar with it. Starfleet was a huge organization; the Federation, even more extensive.

  But the scientists had heard of him. Or—more accurately—they’d heard of two of his officers. It was Commanders LaForge and Data who had caught their attention with the follow-up work they’d done on metaphasic shielding. And now the Nalyn thought they could benefit from those advances.

  The captain summoned the two officers to his ready room. “Well, what do you think?” he asked them both after giving them a brief summary of the report.

  Geordi gave that tilt of his head that he did when he was hesitant. “I don’t know, captain. Two months isn’t a lot of time, and we haven’t even looked at the data yet. It would have been better if they’d sent this a lot earlier.”

  “Agreed,” Picard gave a brisk nod. “But they didn’t come across your research until now, so that can’t be helped. Relegate all your other duties until further notice. We’ve already set course for the Brigadoon Research Station. It’ll take us a week to arrive. You can use that time to get up to speed on what they’ve done so far.”

  “Captain, have they found a way to breach the dimensional barrier?” Data asked. “That would greatly accelerate their investigation. It would allow a constant flow of information in both directions and increase…” He fell silent as Picard raised a hand.

  “Yes, Data, they’ve continued to pursue that avenue as well, without success so far. Maybe you and LaForge will have better luck. Feel free to reassign any crewmembers you require to assist you. See Commander Riker or myself if there is anything else you need. Good luck. Dismissed.”

  LaForge leaned forward removed his VISOR and put his face in his hands, then rubbed his temples and tired eyes. VISOR or not, they still hurt at the moment. “We’re not making any progress,” he grumbled through his hands, knowing Data’s acute hearing could discern his words regardless.

  “That is not true, Geordi. We have already eliminated a large number of potential solutions as ineffective,” Data replied from his seat on the other side of the workstation island in the science lab.

  LaForge glared at him through splayed fingers.

  Data refused to be discouraged. “I believe we can emulate the conditions that open the interdimensional gateway. That does not solve the problem of the temporal discrepancy, but it does mean that people on both sides can bridge the gap at will.”

  “Which doesn’t mean much when you’re talking six days, but makes a heck of a lot of difference with regard to a hundred years,” LaForge said. “That’s excellent, Data. From now on, that means the researchers can test their theories as they go, instead of having to wait, or rely on guesswork. Now all we have to do is test it.”

  “Perhaps we should ask the captain if he wishes us to test it before our rendezvous with the research station, or after.”

  “Engage.” Picard gave the order to activate the deflector shield, altered to resonate at the frequency to open the door between dimensions.

  Nothing happened. On any of the several attempts.

  Disappointment filled the bridge like a dense fog. Picard felt it most keenly from LaForge but, ironically, his “unemotional” android crewmate seemed almost equally dejected.

  “It was still good work, Data,” Troi pointed out. “Perhaps the Nalynians will have some insight to add that will allow the final breakthrough.”

  “You made considerable progress just from their notes,” Riker added. “Working together, you should be able to make the final step.”

  “We’ll keep at it, Captain,” LaForge said. “Maybe the scientists will see something we missed.”

  “They’ll be aboard tomorrow. You can ask them then. Have you already transmitted your notes?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Picard had seen pictures of Gaemes, as well as of several of the other Nalynians. All had appeared vigorous and youthful. And while he could still see the vigor in the man before him, the youthfulness had long ago fled.

  Deep lines creased his face, and his dark blue hair hair was streaked with white. Still, his handclasp was strong as he greeted the current Enterprise officers.

  “We’ve gone over the reports from your Commande
r Data and Commander LaForge,” Gaemes said after the niceties were dispensed with. “Very impressive.” He and two others, along with several members of Picard’s senior staff, were seated around a table in a conference room. “Perhaps working together we can find a way to amplify the frequency enough to actually open the gateway. Then we can test if the shielding works as it should.”

  From there the talk grew heavily technical, with Picard and Gaemes deferring to the scientists such as LaForge and Data, as well as the Nalynians—Ralf and Elfys.

  When Picard noted that Gaemes was saying as little as he himself, the captain caught the Nalynian’s eye and gave a slight nod toward the door. The two men rose in unison, not interrupting the conversation around them.

  Once out in the hall, Picard said, “We do have a contingency plan to present to you. I have no idea if you’ve considered it or not. But with the temporal differential, well, it would be simple for us to evacuate your people. We could help you relocate.”

  “We have discussed that, Captain. And the offer is greatly appreciated. But surely you’ll understand when I say that abandoning our home is not an option.”

  “I do understand. But if it should come to that…”

  “It won’t, Captain.” Gaemes said firmly. At Picard’s skeptical look, he elaborated, “Please forgive me, Captain. I don’t mean to sound stubborn or ungrateful. Perhaps if I explain…It’s our experience that, when a ‘fall back’ plan exists, it increases the tendency to, well, fall back. We aren’t going to do that. We will find a solution to this problem.”

  Picard admired their tenacity even as he questioned their wisdom. Still, it wasn’t for him to dictate. The decision ultimately rested with the Nalynians, and them alone. “I just thought you should know it is an option.”

  “Thank you. But, please understand. It really isn’t an option. We have discussed it, and we won’t be pursuing it. And I don’t mean this is something our small group has decided for everyone. It was discussed on Nalyn by those still there. I doubt if they’ve changed their minds in six days. None of us here have, after much more time than that.”

  Back in the conference room, Picard listened with half an ear as they continued discussing variables and assigning tasks. The true test would come when the portal between dimensions opened. Picard could tell the Nalynians were both eager for the renewed contact with home, and fearful of what they would find after two more transitions.

  Perhaps, Picard thought, exposure to the interdimensional opening was what they needed to finally complete the research. If they could find a way to open the gap artificially, and keep it open, that would greatly accelerate the progress.

  The Enterprise accompanied the largest of the Nalynian ships back to the other system where Nalyn itself appeared right on schedule.

  Gaemes had opted to stay on the Enterprise with its more up-to-date technology, although scientists were busily working on his own ship as well. They kept an open comm line between the ships’ labs, and the bridge was tapped in at the moment.

  “Sensor readings coming in now,” LaForge was saying. “Comparing the data against what’s already in the computers.” Then his voice grew heavy with disappointment. “Noting various discrepancies. We’ll have to adjust our calculations for the shielding, and for opening the portal.”

  “What’s the time frame, Geordi?” Picard asked.

  “A few hours, or a few days. It depends on the cause of the differential. It could have been that the older instruments were less accurate, or perhaps the gateway itself has continued to change.”

  Picard turned to Gaemes, whose expression was so determinedly neutral as he stared at the image of his homeworld that Picard’s heart went out to the man.

  “We’re not giving up,” Picard told him, and received a sad smile in response.

  “Thank you, Captain. Nor are we. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to my ship.”

  “Of course.” Picard watched him go, then exchanged a glance with ship’s cousellor Deanna Troi. “I think he was hoping to return home.”

  Troi concurred with the observation. “Perhaps he still should. His leadership has no doubt been invaluable to them, but he’s not a scientist. They can continue without him.”

  “I can’t see him leaving a job undone.” Picard gave a huge sigh. “We’ll have to work faster. If a breakthrough comes fast enough, he can return home for his final years and take the solution with him.”

  Barely stifling a growl, Captain Benjamin Sisko glared at his commanding officer. “Admiral, don’t you find this delay specious? It has nothing to do with the war effort.”

  Admiral Ross returned the glower full force. “Obviously you didn’t grasp that billions of lives, an entire planet’s population, are at stake. Otherwise you wouldn’t have wasted my time with that question. Just what are we fighting to defend if we ignore such a plea for help?”

  “Sir, with all due respect, the Defiant is a warship…”

  “Captain,” Ross’s voice took on a sharper edge, “the war will survive just fine for a whole month without you. Those are your orders. Dismissed.”

  As it only took thirty seconds to beam from Starbase 13 back to the Defiant, Sisko’s mood had not improved by the time he materialized in the small ship’s transporter room.

  He stalked onto the bridge.

  “Coordinates laid in for Brigadoon,” Commander Jadzia Dax informed him as she vacated the captain’s chair and resumed her place at the helm.

  “Best speed, Commander. Raise shields and the cloak.” Sisko’s voice still held the undertone of a growl. He motioned to the relief helmsman, a young Vulcan man, to wait a moment.

  “Aye, sir.” If her commanding officer’s foul mood disconcerted her any, the Trill officer didn’t show it. “Arrival in four days at warp nine.” Dax noted the loitering Vulcan and got up again so he could resume that post.

  Sisko handed her a data chip. “Have at it, Old Man. They seem to think that Defiant’s souped up shields will help solve the interference problem Nalyn has when traveling between the dimensions. And they think the cloaking harmonics might help open the rift.”

  “They knew about the cloak?” Dax couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice.

  “They knew about the Romulan ships’ cloaking abilities. Starfleet graciously volunteered the Defiant.” Sisko’s grim tone showed how little he appreciated being loaned out.

  “Ah. Well, I’ll take a look at this,” she tapped the data chip, “and get up to speed by the time we’re there.”

  The five Nalynian ships still hovered in orbit around the previously uninhabited world. Over the preceding decades a research base had grown on the surface below. The Defiant took up a geosynchronous position with the rest of the science fleet.

  As they’d arranged while enroute, Gaemes and two of the senior scientists, Elfys and Ralf, beamed aboard as soon as the Defiant arrived.

  The eldest of the three, Gaemes moved carefully and deliberately, as if not wanting to overbalance and fall. His thick, short hair had gone completely white and age had added gravel to his voice. His two companions, although also not young, still had steadier gaits, straighter postures and more color in their hair.

  “Captain Sisko.” He gave a pleasant nod that included Sisko and Dax, then looked startled. “Commander Dax?”

  “That’s right,” she gave a friendly smile.

  “A pleasure to meet you both,” he said, then added to Dax, “Forgive my staring. I’d been told you were over three hundred years old. I’m afraid I projected my own expectations.”

  “Don’t worry about it. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your quarters. We’ll be in the Nalyn system in about two hours and can get started.”

  Dax maneuvered the Defiant to where Nalyn would next appear. Since that anticipated appearance would not be for more than a hundred years, the danger of accidentally running into the planet would be nonexistent.

  “Captain, the modifications to the shields and the deflector di
sh are complete. We’re ready to try to open a rift,” Dax said.

  Sisko stood and with a gentle hand and a nod, guided Gaemes to the center seat. “Go ahead, Commander.” He just stopped himself from calling his longtime friend “old man.” No use creating confusion.

  “Probe launched,” Dax reported, her fingers flying gracefully across the science console. “Deflector shield emitting the beam.”

  As they watched on the viewscreen, the space before the probe seemed to bubble and roil. An eruption of multi-hued light appeared then vanished. The silver cylindrical probe was gone.

  “I programmed the probe to emit a burst like our deflector shield did, and return after only two and a half seconds,” Dax explained for the benefit of Elfys and Ralf. “I doubt they’ll even notice it there, but if it worked, it’ll return here in six hours. The next step should be to send a small uncrewed ship through, to make sure the passage is stable. Plus, we can send another probe with all our data, and we can send updates.”

  “So even if it takes us years to send data, they’ll be getting it minutes apart. In plenty of time to help before Nalyn reappears on this side of the rift.” Gaemes beamed with joy. “This is wonderful, Captain. You and your crew can’t imagine how this helps us. There’s no way we can ever thank you.”

  Six hours later, the probe returned. Barely. “The trip fried the circuitry, Captain,” Dax said, frowning deeply as she read the telemetry coming in from the probe. “If the backup system hadn’t activated, it wouldn’t have made it.”

  “So we’ve solved half the problem.” Sisko was determined to remain optimistic. “Now let’s see about adopting the Defiant’s shield harmonics.”

  Over the next few days, Dax customized and sent a dozen more probes, none of which came back in any better condition than the first.

  Sisko found himself using his engineering background as he helped review data and adapt the probes. It felt good to think of something besides the war, to be doing something constructive rather than defensive or destructive.