| Star Trek: Bozeman - The Beginning By: Derek Kestner Based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry PROLOGUE It was a bustling day at the Star Fleet Academy. Everyone was rushing around getting ready for the big event. On this day, however, no one was rushing to get to class. The teachers were not preparing for the days lessons. Today everyone was preparing for the senior class graduation. Everyone, that is, except for two people. The story begins Cadet Derek Kestner awoke and through sleepy eyes looked at the clock hanging on the wall. After realizing what time it was he jumped out of bed landing on the floor with ease. He then walked over to his roommates bunk, Cadet Brad Foreman, and started to shake him awake. �Wh- what happened. Leave me alone,� he said pushing him away. �Don�t you remember what today is? It�s graduation day,� Derek said. At this, Brad jumped out of his bunk. They both raced around gathering up their clothes and began to pull them on. Then they raced out of the room. Down the halls they raced toward the auditorium. They walked through the open doors. The other students were rushing around to their places. One of their friends, Cadet Alex Robinson, saw them come in and walked over to them. �You guys are so lucky. You're never late, and you always seem to get there a few minuets before hand,� he said smiling. �It�s a gift,� Brad said. Derek and Brad quickly found seats beside each other. A man walked onto the stage and stepped in front of the seniors. It was Admiral Joseph Thomson the head of Starfleet Academy. He said, "Is everyone ready?� He looked around for a moment then said,� Good.� He walked over to the podium, nodded at a person to the left side of the stage who opened the curtains. Admiral Thomson cleared his throat then said, �Welcome friends to the Starfleet Academy Graduation. This is how we�re going to do this: I will call out the student�s name. They will come up here, I will give them their certificate and their new assignment, and then they will retake their seat. Are we ready to begin?� After a quick pause the admiral begins to call out names. Down the list he went, calling out names and giving out their first assignments. There were jobs all over the galaxy. Derek really didn�t care what he got as long as he could work somewhere with Brad. Then Admiral Thomas said, �Bradley Alexander Foreman.� Brad stood and walked over to the podium. Admiral Thomas gave him his certificate and then said, �Mr. Foreman here is a great student. His best subject is engineering, and so, Starfleet feels the same way we do.� The admiral turned to Brad and said, �Your new assignment is Engineers Mate on the Starship Bozeman.� Brads face lit up. The engineer on the Bozeman was the famous Captain Montgomery Scott. Brad liked the idea of serving under him. �Thank you sir,� he said. He turned and made his way back to the seat, escorted with applause. Admiral Thomson again started down the list. Name after name. It seemed like an hour to Derek. Finally Admiral Thomson said, �Derek Charles Kestner.� Derek stood. He slowly started to make his way up to the front of the stage. Once he was up there he stood beside Admiral Thomson. Admiral Thomson said, �Mr. Kestner here also studied engineering and let me tell you, if we were stranded in Romulan territory in a shuttle I wouldn�t want him to go near the door of the engineering room.� At this the whole crowd laughed. Derek felt his cheek go red with embarrassment. Admiral Thomson put up his hands to silence the crowd then said, �But Mr. Kestner has shown some skill in the science department. That is why Starfleet has put at Opps on the Starship Bozeman.� Derek was relieved that he was on the same ship as Brad. He did not even hear the crowd�s applause as he sat back down. �I�m glad you got on the same ship I did,� Brad said. �Me too,� Derek said. The rest of the ceremony went by quickly. Alex got a job in Sick Bay on the Bozeman. Once it was over and everyone was standing to leave Admiral Thomson came back to the podium and said, �I almost forgot, the crew of the Bozeman needs to be ready to leave and on the shuttle pad at oh-six-hundred tomorrow morning. The Bozeman will be leaving from Space dock at fourteen-hundred tomorrow afternoon. Also we would ask that you join us in the cafeteria for some refreshments. Once again, thank you for coming.� Once the announcement was finished everyone started toward the doors and to the cafeteria. Brad and Derek stayed on the stage for a moment then slowly walked to the cafeteria. �Do you realize this will be the last time we walk off the stage?� Derek asked. �Yeah. It�s a weird feeling,� Brad said looking around at the walls. They arrived at the cafeteria. One look around told them that it would be awhile before they ate. They finally got around the line and ate quickly. �Hey, Brad, I�m going to say good-bye to a friend,� Derek said. He stood and walked over to a table in the corner. A girl was sitting alone at the table. �Hello, Whitney,� Derek said to her. �Hey, Derek,� she said to him. The girl was Cadet Whitney Gallimore, a girl at the end of her first year. �Sorry you didn�t get the engineering job you wanted.� �That�s alright. At least I�m in Starfleet. I didn�t really want to be an engineer. But my father wanted me to be one,� Derek said. As he said this his face fell. �My father was an engineer also, he died en route to Seti Alpha Six, it was a warp core breech.� Whitney�s face also fell. �I�m sorry,� she said sadly. She�s a true friend, Derek thought. To change the subject Derek asked, �What job are you going after?� �Tactical,� she replied. She was not looking at Derek; something behind him had caught her eye. Derek turned around to see what it was. He turned back around with a smile on his face. Whitney snapped back to reality and, looking at the smile on his face, asked, �What?� �You like Brad don�t you?� he asked. Whitney nodded. �Well I�ll go tell him now,� Derek said standing. Whitney grabbed his arm and said, �Please don�t tell him.� Derek laughed. �Alright, I won�t tell him.� He paused then said, �I�d better get going. See ya.� He walked over to where Brad was standing talking to a girl Derek had never seen before. �Oh Derek, I would like for you to meet a friend of mine,� Brad said. He motioned to the girl and said, �This is Cadet Ashley Rickman. She�s at the end of her second year.� He turned to the girl and said, �This is my friend Derek.� Derek reached out his hand shook hers and said, �Nice to meet you.� He then turned to Brad. �Brad I think we�d better leave. We�ve got a lot of packing to do.� Brad and Derek turned and walked toward the door. Before they walked out Admiral Thomson walked over to them and said, �Boys, I just wanted to say good bye and also say that your record for coming into my office the most will be safe for a long time.� �Thank you, sir,� Derek and Brad said with a smile. They turned and walked down out the door and down the corridor. �I didn�t know you knew Whitney,� Brad said. �We meet one time during summer vacation when I was thirteen,� Derek said. They continued to walked down the corridor and into their room. They spent the next few hours packing and getting ready for the flight to Space Dock. They had studied about it many times but they have never been there. It was almost four o�clock before they had finished packing. They decided to call their moms, who were not able to come, and tell them they would not be coming home. Derek sat down at the table first. He told the phone the number. Within seconds Derek�s moms face was on the screen. �Hi mom,� Derek said. �Hello honey, how was they graduation? Sorry I couldn�t come,� she said smiling. �I had to clean the house. Your grandparents are coming down, they want to see they�re little engineer.� �I didn�t get an engineering job. I got Opps on the U.S.S. Bozeman,� Derek told her. �Oh. Ah well at least you�re in Starfleet,� she said. �Listen, honey, I�ll be out there to pick you up at noon tomorrow.� �I won�t be there,� Derek said. �What are you talking about?� �Tomorrow at six in the morning I�m going up to the Bozeman. We�ll be leaving by two tomorrow,� Derek told her. �Sorry mom.� �That�s ok, as long as you come back here for shore leave.� �I will mom,� he promised. �Listen mom I�ve gotta go, Brad wants to call his mom. Bye mom, I love you.� The phone hung up. Brad sat down at the table and called his mom. His call went about the same as Derek�s. With his call finished he stood and walked over to his bed. �What time is it?� Derek asked from the top bunk. Brad turned around, looked at the clock, and said, �It�s almost time for dinner.� �Well we better get to the cafeteria and eat,� Derek said. He jumped down out of his bunk and walked toward the door. The doors slid open with a small hiss. Both Derek and Brad walked out toward the cafeteria. They did not spend a lot of time eating and came back to their room as soon as they had finished to rest. Tomorrow was going to be a long day so they needed to sleep. At about 10:30 they both fell asleep�but not before setting the alarm clock that Admiral Thomas let them borrow, since Brad had broken theirs the week before. * * * The next morning came early. The alarm clock woke them up. Brad threatened to break this one as well but Derek would not let him since it was not theirs. They slowly got their clothes on then grabbed up their bags and headed toward the shuttlecraft landing. The shuttle was standing on the landing ready to leave. The pilot was standing beside the steps that lead up into the craft. �Good morning. Are you two headed to Spacedock?� he asked. �What�s so good about it,� Derek heard Brad whisper. �Yes sir,� Derek said. They walked up the steps and into the passenger section of the shuttle. They found that Alex and three other people from the Academy were already there. They sat down beside Alex and waited for the pilot to climb into the shuttle. The pilot climbed up the steps and pressed a button beside the opening that lifted the steps. He next walked into the front of the shuttle where all the navigational equipment was located. The speakers crackled into life and his voice said, �Prepare for the liftoff.� Soon the engines roared into life, the shuttle rose into the air. Higher and higher the shuttle flew. They were soon out of the Earth�s atmosphere. Within minutes after they left the landing they were docking in Space Dock. They walked through the door that had been pressurized. A man standing outside the door asked, �Are you the new crew members for the Bozeman?� �Yes sir,� Brad said seeing that he was a commander. �Good, please follow me,� he said. The commander turned and lead them down two corridors to a set of doors that said �Transporter Room�. The doors hissed open. �Go over there and stand on the pads.� They obeyed. Soon the blue world of the transporter surrounded them. They found themselves standing in a similar room with four men facing them. One of the men stepped forward �Good morning. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Morgan Bateson.� He then motioned to the other two men. �This is my First Officer Commander Gabriel Bush and the Chief Engineer Captain Montgomery Scott.� Brad suddenly walked forward with his hand outstretched. He said, �Sir may I shake your hand.� "Aye, laddie,� he said shaking Brads hand. Bateson stood back and smiled as he watched the young ensign shake hands with a true legend. He turned to a man they had not noticed before. �Ensign will you please take them to their quarters.� The ensign nodded and said, �Follow me.� He lead them out the doors and started to walk down the corridor. They soon came to a set of doors. The ensign stopped and said, �Ensign Kestner?� Derek walked forward. �That�s me.� The ensign handed him an info-padd. �This is your access code. You enter it once, then the computer will recognize your bio-signature and you wont have to use it here anymore. You will also use it up on the bridge to gain access to your panel.� �Thank you,� Derek said. The others walked on as Derek entered his access code into the panel provided. The doors slid open. The room was dark and quiet. �Computer: Full lights.� The computer beeped and the lights came on. Derek started to unpack, excited that he was finally on a starship. �All officers to the bridge,� a voice said sometime later. Derek walked out of the doors and found himself in the corridor. He saw a man walking toward him. He asked, �Where is the turbolift?� The man pointed to a door across the hall from Derek�s cabin. Derek nodded to the man and walked toward the doors. The doors slid open. Derek walked in. �Destination?� the computer asked. �Bridge,� Derek told the computer. The turbolift swiftley and silently. The doors opened again but they were not on the bridge. A man walked in. �Good morning sir,� Derek told the man who was a lieutenant. �Good morning,� he said. �I don�t believe we�ve met. I�m Lieutenant Andy Welch.� He reached out his hand to shake Derek�s. Derek shook hands with him and said, �I am Cade- Ensign Derek Kestner. Sorry, old habit.� �I understand. I�m the helmsman. What position do you fill?� �I�m at opps,� Derek said. �Well I believe this is our floor,� Andy said as the lift doors opened to reveal the bridge. Derek followed Andy down to his station since opps is beside the helm. Captain Bateson was sitting in the center chair reading a report. Derek sat down and entered his access code into the computer. The control panel switched on. Derek started his work just as Andy was. After about an hour Derek sat back and looked at the screen. He had finishedhis Simulated Duties Program, and turned to look at the bridge. It looked like the bridge of a Galaxy class ship, only smaller. The bridge was bustling with activity. Captain Bateson looked up from a new report he was looking at and smiled. �First time on a bridge Mr. Kestner?� �No sir. My dad was the chief engineer on the U.S.S. Nebula. He showed me their bridge,� Derek told him. Captain Bateson pushed a button on his chair and opened a comm link and said, �Bridge to Engineering, Mr. Scott?� �Scott here captain,� Scotty�s voice said. �Mr. Scott is engineering ready to go?� Bateson asked. �Yes sir. We will leave at your command,� Scotty said. �Very good, Mr. Scott, I guess we�ll be leaving a little earlier than planned. Bridge out,� Bateson said closing the comm link. Welch leaned over to Derek. �I guess we�ll be leaving now,� he whispered. Bateson pressed another button on his chair and said, �Spacedock this is the Bozeman do we have permission to leave?� �Bozeman this is Spacedock, you have permission to leave. We will open space doors,� a voice said. �Thank you Spacedock. Bozeman out.� Bateson turned his attention to Andy. �Andy proceed at one quarter impulse. Mr. Kestner, on screen.� Derek pressed some keys on his control panel and the picture came up on the screen. The space doors were slowly opening and the Bozeman was closing in on the doors and the space beyond them. With in two minutes the Bozeman had cleared the space doors and were in space. �Andy, set course for Romulan border, warp five,� Bateson ordered. �I will give you all your mission briefing in a few hours.� The Bozeman increased speed. The stars streaked across the screen as they accelerated. The hour pasted quickly. Bateson stood and said, �Will all officers please meet me in the briefing room?� The officers stood. Derek followed Andy back to a set of doors just off the bridge. Each member took a seat. Bateson then said, �Bateson to Scotty.� �Scott here captain,� Scotty said over the comm. �Will you and Ensign Foreman please come to the briefing room?� �We�ll be ri� there captain. Scott out.� The link was disconnected. A few moments passed. Then Scotty came with Brad at his heels. Bateson stood and said, �Before we begin I just want to announce my decision to add Mr. Foreman to the command crew. His friend Derek as you know is already apart of the command crew.� �Thank you sir,� Brad said. Bateson smiled. �Now to the real reason we�re here. As you know we�re en route to the Romulan border. A few months ago a renegade Klingon Commander started to attack our border patrols as well as the Romulan border patrols. Starfleet finally said that there would not be any border patrols. �This Klingon can not be caught, Starfleet has tried.Without the border patrols the Romulans can come into Federation Space whenever they want. Our orders are to find this Klingon and, if they don�t comply to reason, we will destroy them.� �Captain, might that re-open tensions with the Klingons again?� Wizz Dayton, the Comm officer asked. �The Klingons are sending a ship of their own to stop this renegade but we are closer,� Bateson said. �Those are our orders. Now everyone back to your stations.� The bridge crew walked back to their stations as Brad and Scotty went back to the engine room. �Mr. Kestner, ETA to Romulan border?� Bateson asked when they were all seated. �ETA: One point three hours,� Derek replied. The next hour went by quickly. The Bozeman encountered an asteroid field. Other than that the hour was boring. Then Andy said, �Romulan border.� �Very good Andy. Put us on a parallel course with the border. Mr. Kestner start your sensor sweep,� Bateson ordered. �Captain what if they are cloaked?� Derek asked. �That�s a good question,� Bateson said. He turned to Dayton. �Wizz have all decks go to yellow alert. Josh, raise shields.� The tactical officer Josh Wright said, �Yes sir. Shields are raising.� �Good man, Josh,� Bateson said turning back around. The next few hours were uneventful. Soon Derek�s shift was up. He closed down the Opps station then left the bridge. He didn't go to his quarters but instead went to the lounge. He sat and waited for Brad to come. After a few moments Brad walked through the door. �Hello Derek. Long day,� he said. He sat down and ordered a drink. �So are you happy that you are under Captain Scott?� Derek asked. �Yeah. He�s the best engineer there has ever been,� Brad said. �He really knows what he�s talking about.� �My father always admired him. �The best in the business,� my father would say. �Never will be another like him.� My father said they called him the miracle worker,� Derek said taking a sip of his drink. The lounge was not supposed to serve anything strong in case they had to report for duty so they were not drinking Romulan ale. Derek and Brad started talking about the day they had. Suddenly the lights started to flash red and a voice said, �Red alert. Red alert, all hands to battle stations.� �Guess I�ll talk to you later,� Brad said jumping up from the table. They both ran out of the doors each running in a different direction. Derek got into the turbolift and rode up to the bridge. He walked down to his station and sat down. �What�s goin� on?� Derek asked Andy. �A Klingon Bird-of-prey has been detected. She just clocked,� Andy said. Derek sat and looked at his computer screen, but there was no sign of the Klingon vessel on his scanners. Then he saw something, it was behind the Bozeman, the Klingon Bird-of-prey. �Captain, Bird-of-prey just de-clocked behind us. Their weapons are powering up!� Derek shouted. �On screen,� Bateson ordered. Derek made the adjustments and a Klingon Bird-of-prey replaced the dark screen. �Prepare to fire aft torpedo�s.� Suddenly a ball of red light came escaping from the front of the Bird-of-prey. It came closer and closer to the ship and then it exploded. This sent the ship rocking forward. �Andy turn us around!� Bateson shouted. The Bozeman slowly turned on its y-axis. Then it was facing the Klingon vessel. �Prepare to fire photon torpedo�s.� �Aye captain,� Wright said. �Fire!� A ball of red light was sent flying toward the vessel. With impact it exploded. The vessel fired back. The torpedo hit the shields sending the Bozeman left. Andy put it back on course. �Fire!� Bateson shouted. Another ball of red light flew towards the vessel and exploded. This made the ship shudder. �Captain if I can remember correctly the weakest point on a Bird-of-prey is it�s belly, even when shields are up,� Michel Dennis, the science officer said. �Your right. Josh, target it�s belly,� Bateson ordered. �Aye, sir,� Wright said. A few minutes later another red ball came flying out of the front of the Bozeman. It hit the Bird-of-prey with an explosion. This hit sent the vessel off course. Then the vessel backed down, clocking once again. �Captain you did it,� Derek said. �Yes well, they won�t be gone for long, they will come back. We must be ready for them,� Bateson told his crew. They knew he was right. �I want everyone to stay alert.� * * * For the next two hours everyone stayed on the bridge. All of them were expecting another attack form the Klingon vessel. It did not come. Finally Bateson let them all leave. Derek went to his quarters and went straight to bed. * * * The next morning Derek awoke with a start. He grabbed on his cloths and raced to breakfast. He ate then went to the bridge. Bateson, Andy and Wizz were already there. He sat down calmly and went straight to work. Yesterday was the first day that he had ever seen combat, it filled him with excitement. He wondered if they would see combat today. �Wizz what are the Romulans doing about this renegade?� Bateson asked breaking the silence. �Nothing sir. The Klingon is clearing the border of our patrols. They don�t have us breathing down their neck,� Wizz said. Derek staired at his computer screen for a moment. Then like yesterday something came up on one of the sensors. It was right beside the Bozeman. �Captain Klingon Bird-of-prey has just de-clocked beside us!� Derek shouted. The Bozeman shuddered as a photon torpedo hit the shields. �Mr. Kestner do you know anything about the tactical station?� Bateson asked. �I can try, sir,� Derek said. He ran up to the tactical which was located behind the captain�s chair. The ship rocked again. �Prepare to fire photon torpedoes,� Bateson ordered. Derek made the adjustments needed then looked up at the captain. �Torpedoes ready captain,� Derek reported. �Andy turn us around,� Bateson ordered. Once again the Bozeman jerked. Then another torpedo hit the shields and another. Rays of energy, called phaser�s, smashed into the shields. All the while Andy was trying to turn the ship. �Captain our shields are falling,� Derek reported. Bateson tapped a button on his chair. �Bridge to Engineering, Scotty?� �Scott here captain,� Scotty�s voice said. �What�s going on down there?� �Captain we�re taking it awful hard. The warp engines are weakening. The energizers are also taking a beating,� Scotty said giving his report. The ship buckled as another torpedo hit. �Captain shields are at forty percent,� Derek said. �Thank you Scotty, bridge out,� Bateson said. The ship buckled again. �Andy can�t you get us around to where we can hit him?� �Sorry sir, they�re in a blind spot and when we get around they turn with us,� Andy said. The ship was tossed with another hit from a torpedo. Derek pulled himself up off the floor and stood behind the consol again. �I�ll take over this station,� Wright said. �Aye sir,� Derek said. He walked back down to his station beside Andy. �Andy can�t you get us around?� Bateson asked. �Captain the Bird-of-prey has a smaller turning radius than us,� Welch said. �I can�t get into position with it.� �Andy take us away form the battle then turn us around. Hopefully we will be facing them. Course is four-three-six-mark-one,� Bateson said. Andy carried out his orders� It worked. When they turned around they were facing the Klingon vessel, and the red ball of a photon torpedo. They had no time to react. The torpedo smashed into the saucer section. The ship buckled under the explosion. �Josh, fire back!� Bateson ordered. To torpedo�s screamed away from the Bozeman and hit the enemy vessel. In reply the vessel fired back. Four torpedos flew away from the vessel. Each smashed into the Bozeman. �Fire back!� �Captain weapons are not responding,� Josh reported. �What?� �The weapons are not responding.� Another torpedo screamed away from the vessel. The explosion rocked the ship violently. Josh fell and smashed his head on the consol. �Medic!� Bateson shouted. �Andy get us outta here. Full reverse.� The starship increased speed and started to back away from the Klingon vessel. The ship increased speed as it flew along. �Andy turn us around.� The Bozeman slowly turned around and started away from the Klingon vessel. �Mr. Kestner are the Klingons following us?� Bateson asked. �No sir. They have just clocked. I think they are going off to lick their wounds,� Derek said. Bateson tapped a button on his chair. �Bride to Engineering, Scotty?� �Scott here Captain,� Scotty said. �Give me a full damage report,� Bateson said. �It�s not good Captain, the warp engines �ave taken a real beatin�. So �as the impulse engines. The main energizers �ave also takin� a beatin�,� Scotty reported. �We�re barely pullin� �er together.� �Thank you Mr. Scott. When can you fix it?� �Give me at least a day sir,� Scotty said. �Thank you Scotty, Bridge out.� �Captain what about the Bird-of-prey?� Derek asked. �When Scotty�s finished with the repairs we will go back out to the border,� Bateson explained. �When the Klingons de-clock, we shall engage tractor beams and hall it to the nearest space station.� The rest of the day was spent repairing the ship. It had a lot of damage. Bateson pleaded for Scotty to speed up the process. In the end Scotty said it would take twelve hours. That was good enough for Bateson. With the day ended Derek went off to his quarters. Brad would be working late that night. Derek changed out of his clothes and went to bed. The next morning Derek awoke early. He quickly changed clothes and went to eat some breakfast. This morning he ate slowly. The day before he had ate in a rush and did not get full. After he was finished he walked up to the bridge. Bateson, Welch, and Wright were already there. Josh had a bandage on his head. Derek took his seat and started a sensor sweep. He turned to Captain Bateson. �Sir, when are we going back to the border?� �As soon as the rest of the command staff reaches the bridge,� Bateson replied. Derek turned and went on with his work. In the next few minuets Dayton, Dennis, and Bush reached their positions. �Andy, set course for the border,� Captain Bateson ordered. He turned to Dayton. �Wizz have all decks go to Red Alert. Josh, be ready with the tractor beams as soon as Derek says that the sensors has picked up the Bird-of-prey.� He called me Derek, Derek thought. That must mean he trusts me. Andy made some adjustments and soon the Bozeman was heading for the border once again. As they neared the border the Bozeman slowed down. �Andy put us on a parallel course with the border,� Bateson ordered. �Aye, sir,� Welch said. The ship turned and started on the new course. Within a few moments Derek shouted, �Captain Bird-of-prey just de-clocked on port side.� �Josh engage tractor beam,� Bateson ordered. A few minutes later Wright said, �Captain the Bird-of-prey is in tow.� Bateson tapped the button on the bridge. �Bridge to Engineering, Scotty?� �Foreman here, Captain Scott is busy with the warp core,� Brad�s voice said. �Can we warp Mr. Foreman?� Bateson asked. �Yes sir. The warp core will be on-line in two minutes,� Brad said. �Thank you Mr. Foreman, Bridge out.� With the Comm link closed Bateson turned to Welch. �Andy set course for nearest star base full impulse until warp comes on-line.� �Aye sir,� Welch said. With that the Bozeman started forward on full impulse power. * * * Two days later Derek and Brad were sitting at Star Base 5 eating dinner in the lounge. The Klingon crew was held in the brig being prepared for the journey to Qo�noS where they would be taken care of by the Klingon government. �I tell you we should not give those Klingon�s back to the Klingon government. Publicly they will scold them but behind closed doors they will congratulate them,� Brad said as they were eating. �I don�t know, the Klingon Empire is very strict about things like that,� Derek said. �Your not defending them are you?� Brad asked. �No. I�m just saying that the Klingon Empire our allies now. I think we should trust them,� Derek said. �I don�t know, maybe your right,� Brad said. �People just don�t give Klingon�s high regard.� �Well just look at the Enterprise, they used to have a Klingon man the tactical station. Now he�s at DS9,� Derek said. �True. I just grew up fearing Klingon�s,� Brad said. �This new generation will grow up fearing Cardassians. Soon the Cardassians may join the Federation. When that happens there will still be tension between us and the Cardassians.� �Yes,� Derek said nodding. �It�s amazing how people can fear people they do not understand.� �Well I�m just about as full as you can get. I�d say we�d better get back to the ship,� Brad said standing and picking up the trey. �I agree.� Derek stood and walked over to the disposal chute and threw away the trey. Then Derek and Brad walked off toward the Transporter Room to head back to the ship. Six Months Later� Ensign Derek Kestner was sitting in his quarters enjoying some tea when the speakers came to life and said. �All officers to the bridge.� Derek stood and walked out of his quarters and toward the turbolift. The bridge was crowded with people when Derek arrived. He sat down at his station and turned to look at Captain Bateson. �Look people, we�ve got a problem. The Cardassians as you know have been giving us trouble for months. We just got a report that the Cardassians are now in Federation space. They have set a course for Hashak III. �Our orders are to go to the station and protect it from attack.� �How far away are we from it?� Bush asked. �Derek,� Bateson said. �ETA: Twelve hours, that is, if we turn now,� Kestner said. �Very well,� Bateson said. �Andy set course for Hashak III.� �Aye Captain,� Derek said. The Bozeman turned and started on a new course heading for the space station. �Dayton have all decks go to Red Alert.� �Aye sir,� Dayton said. The bridge changed to red running lights. The Bozeman sped toward the space station. When they arrived they found something horrifying. The station was in ruins. There was no sign of the Cardassians. �Derek scan for life forms,� Bateson ordered. The scan took only moments then Derek reported, �Captain, the life signs that are coming up are very weak.� Bateson tapped a button on his chair. �Transporter room prepare a landing party.� �Aye sir,� a voice said. �Captain, may I be apart of the landing party?� Derek asked. Bateson thought a moment then said, �Sure, go ahead.� Derek stood and walked to the turbo lift. The doors opened. Derek walked in and said, �Transporter room.� Within seconds the doors opened in front of the Transporter room doors. Derek walked in. He saw that four other people were standing on the transporter pads. �The Captain said that I was to be apart of the landing party,� Derek said to the Transporter Chief. The chief handed him a phaser and a scanner. Derek took his place on the transporter pads. He noticed that on of the people was Brad. The chief activated the transporter and the cool tingle of the beam surrounded them. They reappeared at the station. It was a mess. The station had been destroyed. They started to see if they could save anyone. They found few survivors. Those they did find they were almost dead. �Well I guess we�d better prepare the bodies for transport,� the commanding officer said. While looking around Brad said, �Derek come look at this.� Derek walked over to where Brad was. Derek looked down to the body he was pointing at. She had a Starfleet personnel name tag. It said her name was: Sharon Gallimore. Derek thought for a moment then it hit him. �This is Whitney�s mom. I remember her from the vacation. She looks a little different though.� �I thought it was her,� Brad said. �Whitney will be crushed. Well help me take her over with the other bodies.� Derek grabbed her under the arms while Brad grabbed her feet. Then they walked over to where the other bodies laid and prepared to set her down. As they were setting her down they herd a phaser fire and a earsplitting scream. They both pulled out their phasers and ran to where the sound was coming from. They were the first to reach the room where the scream had came from. They saw a man with many injuries and blood streaming down his face standing in the room with a phaser in his hand. He staggered to the left then fell to his knees, then he fell to the floor. �Medic!� Brad yelled. They had brought the Doctor along with them. Derek walked over to the man and pulled the phaser from his hand. �Hey Brad, I don�t think that he needs a medic. I also don�t think he shot himself,� Derek said. �Well of course he did, even a phaser on stun can kill someone,� Brad said. �This phaser is not on stun,� Derek said. He tossed the phaser over to Brad. At that moment the others walked in. �What happened?� the c.o. asked. �Sir, this man killed someone then died. No doubt he thought the Cardassians had come aboard the ship and was killing anyone that was still alive so he fired at one of us,� Derek explained. �Who was killed?� one of the other officers asked. �The only officer not here is the doctor,� the c.o. said. �Mr. Kestner scan for the doctor.� �Aye sir.� The scan only took seconds. When it was finished Derek said, �There is no sign of the doctor.� The c.o. tapped his communicator. �Landing party to Bozeman.� �This is the Bozeman landing party. Go ahead,� Wizz Dayton�s voice said. �We want to report that the doctor has died, also the bodies are ready for transport.� �Thank you landing party, please send us the coordinates for the beam up.� The c.o. gave them the coordinates then they walked back to the chamber where the bodies were lying. The bodies disappeared in the transporter beam then the landing party was transported. Captain Bateson, Commander Bush, Derek and Brad were sitting in the lounge enjoying a drink and talking. �Sir, how will the families be notified?� Brad asked. �Starfleet Command will notify all of them but for Whitney Gallimore. Our orders are to go to Alpha Centauri and report the loss to Ms. Gallimore,� Bateson said. �Sir if you need a volunteer to tell her I will,� Brad said. �Very well Brad. If you want to tell her you may. Give it to her gently,� Bateson said. With that he stood . �I�d better go notify Andy of the course change. See ya�ll later.� The Captain turned and left the lounge. Bush also stood. �I also must be going.� He turned and left. Brad and Derek both stood and left. Brad went back to the engine room while Derek went back to the bridge. The turbolift doors opened. Derek went to his station and sat down. Bateson had just finished telling Andy the new course change. �ETA to Alpha Centauri?� Bateson asked. �One hour sir,� Derek said. �Derek, Brad volunteered to tell Whitney but I will have to tell her father. I would ask that you, and Brad would accompany Commander Bush and I in telling him,� Bateson said. �You will have to ask Brad but for my part I will come along,� Derek said. �Thank you Derek.� The next hour past quickly. Soon the Bozeman was in orbit around Alpha Centauri. Wizz contacted both Whitney and her father. Derek walked with Bush and Bateson to the Conference Room. Whitney had just been taken in. Bateson, Bush and Derek waited while Brad gave her the news. Minutes later Brad stepped out. He a look of grief on his face. �Let�s give her some time. I suggest we go to the Transporter Room and beam up her father,� Bateson said. They walked in silence. The doors of the Transporter Room slide open. �Chief you may beam up Mr. Gallimore,� Bateson said. Seconds later Whitney�s Dad was standing on the transporter pad. Bateson walked forward his hand out stretched. They shook hands. �Mr. Gallimore my name is Captain Morgan Bateson. These are my officers, Commander Gabriel Bush,� he motioned to Bush, �Ensign Brad Foreman and Ensign Derek Kestner.� Mr. Gallimore shook each of their hands then said, �Why an I here?� �Would you please follow us to the Conference Room?� Bateson asked. �It�s right this way.� He led them to the Conference Room. The doors slide open. A man was standing there. He came over to Captain Bateson. �Captain the girl has been taken to the lounge for a drink,� he whispered. �Thank you Ensign. Would you please excuse us?� �Aye sir.� The Ensign left the room. Bateson went to the head of the table and sat down. Bush, Derek and Brad stood beside him. �Perhaps you should sit down,� Bateson said. Mr. Gallimore slowly sat down. �Why am I here?� �Well as you know your wife had just was stationed on Hashak III. Today the station was attacked by a Cardassian Warship.� Bateson paused. What he had to say was hard. �Your wife didn�t make it.� Mr. Gallimore started to cry. He cried for a while then asked, �Where is my wife�s body?� �It�s on board,� Bateson said. �We will transport it to you. I�m sorry.� Bateson stood. �We�ll leave you alone.� He turned to his officers. �Come.� The four of them walked out of the room and down the corridor. They rounded the corner and entered the turbolift. �Gabe we�ve got to appoint a new doctor,� Bateson said. �I believe the next person in line for the job is Ensign Alex Robinson. They say he was at the top of his class,� Bush said. �That�s right,� Bateson said. The doors opened. �Wizz tell Mr. Robinson to come to the bridge.� �Aye sir,� Dayton said. Minutes later Alex walked onto the bridge. �Mr. Robinson, as you know on Hashak III our doctor was killed. That leaves the position open to you. You are now the doctor of the Bozeman,� Bateson said �Thank you sir,� Bateson said. �You may go back to Sick Bay,� Bateson said. About an hour later Whitney and her father beamed back down to Alpha Centauri. With their mission completed they left orbit and proceeded to their next mission. Two Years Later� Lieutenant Derek Kestner sat in the Conference Room beside Lieutenant Brad Foreman. They were talking about the tactical position. Josh Wright was transferred to another ship and they needed a tactical officer. �The tactical position is a hard one to fill. I don�t know anyone going after that position so if you know anyone going after that position let me know,� Bateson said. �Hey Brad, Whitney told me that she was going after the tactical position,� Derek said. Brad smiled. �Excuse me sir,� he said. �Yes Brad?� Bateson said. �You remember Whitney Gallimore don�t you?� Brad asked. �Yeah,� Bateson said. �What of her?� �Well I hear that she has pursued the tactical position,� Brad said. �Good idea. I�ll look into it. Thank you all, you may return to your stations,� Bateson said. They stood and left the Conference Room. Derek and the other members of the bridge crew went back to the bridge. Two hours later Bateson took his seat on the bridge. �Derek how long would it take to get to Space Dock?� Bateson asked. �Two hours present speed,� Derek reported. �Andy set course for Space Dock,� Bateson said. �We�re going to pick up our new Tactical officer.� �Aye sir,� Welch said. He plotted the new course. The Bozeman turned and started on the new heading. Two hours later the Bozeman came insight of Space Dock. �Wizz hail Space Dock,� Bateson ordered. �Aye sir,� Dayton said. Seconds later he said, �On speakers sir.� �Space Dock this is the starship Bozeman requesting permission to dock,� Bateson said. �Bozeman this is Space Dock we are now opening space doors,� a voice said. The space doors opened. The voice said, �Bozeman we�re taking control, sit back and enjoy the ride.� Space Dock tractored them in. Once they were secure Bateson asked, �Derek would you please join us in the Transporter Room to greet our new tactical officer. �Aye sir,� Derek said. Derek stood and walked to the turbolift with Bateson and Bush. The doors opened, the three of them walked in. �Transporter Room,� Bateson told the computer. Within seconds the doors opened. The three of them walked out. They were facing the Transporter Room doors. They walked in. Bateson looked over at the Transporter Room Chief. �Are they ready to transport?� �Not yet sir,� the chief said. �Very well.� They stood there a second. Then Bateson turned to Derek. �Derek you will take her to her quarters?� �Which room will she be in?� Derek asked. "Take her to Joshes room,� Bateson said. �Aye sir.� Then they herd over the speakers, �Bozeman this is Space Dock. Are you ready to transport?� �We are ready,� Bateson said. There was a light on the pad and then a young girl was standing there. Bateson walked forward. �Ms. Gallimore, I am Captain Morgan Bateson. This is my first officer Commander Gabriel Bush.� He motioned to Bush, �And this is-,� �Hello Derek,� Whitney said walking forward. They shook hands. �I see you already know Lieutenant Kestner,� Bateson said smiling. �Sorry sir,� she said to Derek. �Derek would you please take her to her quarters?� Bateson said fighting a losing battle from laughing. �Aye sir,� Derek said. �Follow me.� Derek led Whitney out of the Transporter Room and into the turbolift. �Deck nine,� Derek said. The turbolift took them to their deck. Whitney followed Derek out of the turbolift. He stopped at a door close to the lift. �This is your cabin,� he said. He handed her an info-padd. �This is your access code. You enter it into the padd beside the door once then the computer will recognize your bio-signature. You will also use it on the bridge at your station. If you don�t have any questions I need to leave.� He waited to see if she had any questions. Instead she said, �Thank you sir.� �Your welcome.� Derek turned and walked back to the turbolift. The turbolift doors opened on the bridge. Derek walked down and took his seat. Bateson cleared his throat and said, �Could I have everyone�s attention?� Everyone on the bridge turned to look at Captain Bateson. �I just wanted to say that we need to do everything to make Ms. Gallimore welcome. Thank you.� Derek went back to work. After awhile Bateson turned to Dayton. �Wizz I need all officers on the bridge.� �Aye sir.� Dayton turned around. In moments the speakers crackled. Wizz announced, �All officers to the bridge.� In only moments officers were coming through the turbolift doors to the bridge. �We�re preparing to leave. I want everyone to stay sharp,� Bateson said. He turned to Whitney. �Ms. Gallimore don�t worry about a thing. We have good officers on this ship. If you have any questions just ask one of them.� �Aye sir,� she said. �Wizz get me Space Dock.� �Aye sir.� It took Wizz a moment then he turned around. �On speakers.� �Space Dock this is the Bozeman requesting permission to leave,� Bateson said. �Bozeman this is Space Dock, we are opening space doors now,� a voice said. The viewscreen showed the doors slowly open. Beyond them was open space. �Thank you Space Dock. Bozeman out.� The speakers died. Bateson turned to Welch. �Andy clear all moorings,� Bateson ordered. �Aye sir. All moorings cleared,� Welch said. �Very well, ahead one-quarter.� �Aye sir.� The Bozeman slowly started forward, space inching closer. So starts the story of the U.S.S. Bozeman. The End |
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