STAR TREK

Family Code

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Derek Kestner

 

Based on Star Trek™ created by Gene Roddenberry

            Captains Log, Stardate: 51646.1.  The Bozeman is enroute to Sirus VII.  For months now Sirus 7 has complained of pirates destroy all importing and exporting vessels to and from other Federation.  Starfleet has ordered us to track down these pirates and bring them into custody under any circumstances.  Some part of me tells me this will not be an easy mission to complete, but we must get the trading lanes open once again for Sirus VII.  End of Log Entry.

 

            Lieutenant Michael Sheffield sat in the Officers Lounge one evening thinking about their upcoming mission.  Captain Morgan Bateson, commander of the U.S.S. Bozeman, had not given them many details except that Space Pirates were blocking trading lanes to Sirus VII.  Being the security officer of the Bozeman, it was his job to make sure that the crew was safe at all times. 

            For some odd reason Space Pirates made him feel uncomfortable, but he couldn’t understand it.  He had been up against many dangers since the Academy, so why did pirates make him uncomfortable?  He sat back in his chair and let his mind wander for a moment, something he didn’t usually do.  Thoughts of his past came surging through his mind.  He quickly straightened up and pushed his past back inside his mind.  He did not think about his past.  To him, the past was the past, and did not belong in the present. 

            Michael pushed all thoughts of the past out of his mind.  He then turned and walked toward the door.  The door slid open for him and he walked out.

           

            Ship’s Counselor Lieutenant Ashley Rickman sat at the table behind Lieutenant Michael Sheffield.  Being a Betazoid, she could read everything that he was thinking, and his thoughts troubled her.  She could see pieces of his past, and those pieces, she could sense, was troubling him, because he quickly pushed him out of his mind.

            Sheffield stood and walked out the door.  She sat and wondered what to do.  Several minutes later, she decided that she should confront Sheffield about it.  She stood and said, “Computer: where is Lieutenant Michael Sheffield?”

            The soft voice of the computer said, “Lieutenant Michael Sheffield is located in the Officers Gym.”

            Rickman walked out of the Officers Lounge and headed for the turbolift.  Within moments she was standing in the Officers Gym.  She saw Sheffield lying on a bench press push up weights.  She walked over to him.  When he saw her standing over him he put the bar back on the rests and rose up.  He quickly whipped his forehead with a towel.

            He smiled and said, “Hello, Counselor.  How can I be of service?”

            She smiled back at him.  “Lieutenant Sheffield, I was wondering if I could see you in my office for just a moment?”

            Sheffield’s smile quickly faded.  “What ever it is, I didn’t do it,” he said.

            “Nothing, nothing like that, I just have something I need to talk to you about,” Rickman explained.

            Sheffield gave her a confused look and asked, “What about?”

            She cleared her throat and said, “Lt. Sheffield, could you tell me a little about your past?”

            She could feel Sheffield’s unease immediately.  He shifted in his seat and said, “There’s not much about my past to tell, Counselor.  In my opinion, the past belongs in the past, and if you don’t mind, that’s where I would like to keep it.”

            Sheffield stood, anger coming off of him in huge waves of emotion.  He walked toward the locker room leaving the Rickman to sit by herself.  This only troubled her more as Dayton’s voice said, “All officers report to the bridge.”

 

            Captain Morgan Bateson sat in the center chair of the U.S.S. Bozeman.  He looked around as his officers quickly walked to their stations to find out what was going on.  He said, “We’re coming up on Sirius VII.  We need to contact the governor, then we’ll begin to search for the pirates.”

            Welch tuned to look back at the captain and said, “Captain, we are coming up on the Sirus system.”

            “Take us out of warp.  When we get to Sirius VII, establish orbit,” Bateson ordered. 

            A few moments later the stars on the screen took their normal spherical shape and the blue planet of Sirius VII appeared on the view screen.  Welch said, “Establishing orbit now, Captain.”  Moments later the Bozeman slowly began to orbit Sirius VII. 

            Bateson sat forward in his chair and said, “Dayton, hail the governor.”

            “Aye, sir,” Dayton said.

            Bateson turned to look at the viewscreen and said, “Onscreen.”  The governor of Sirius VII replaced the blue planet on the viewscreen.  He was sitting behind a large desk piled full of papers.  Bateson said, “I am Captain Morgan Bateson of the U.S.S. Bozeman.  We are here to try to free your trading lanes of pirates.  We will begin searching for them immediately.”

            The governor scowled and said, “Ah, Captain Bateson.  I am glad that Starfleet has finally decided to listen to our cries for help.  When you do catch the pirates you are to hand them over to us immediately.  We will take care of them I can assure you.”

            Bateson looked to Commander Gabriel Bush, his first officer, and expressed a silent moment of conversation without saying a word.  He then looked back at the governor and said, “Governor…?”

            “Kaa’lor,” the governor finished for him.

            “Governor Kaa’lor, our orders are to take the pirates into custody.  We have no orders of giving them to you.  If you have a problem with that, you can contact Starfleet with your concerns,” Bateson said.

            “Trust me, Captain Bateson, I will contact Starfleet.  I promise you that by the time you capture the pirates, your orders will be to give them over to us,” Governor Kaa’lor said.  He pressed an unseen button and was gone, replaced by the spinning Sirius VII.

            Bateson scratched his chin.  He looked over to Bush and said, “Well, dealing with Governor Kaa’lor will be interesting.”  He then turned to Welch and said, “Andy, take us out to last known position that the pirates attacked.”

            Welch pressed a few promps on his board.  The Bozeman slowly came out of orbit around Sirius VII.  The Bozeman flew toward the last known position of the pirates.  Welch said, “We will be there in twelve minutes present speed, Captain.”

            Bateson said, “Very well.  Derek, begin scanning on long-range sensors.  Let’s see if we can find them.”

            “Aye, sir,” Kestner said.  He activated the long-range sensor arrays and quickly studied the readouts.  He turned back to Bateson and said, “Captain, the first sensor sweep reveals that there are many gaseous anomalies that the pirates could be hiding in.”

            Bateson thought for a moment.  He said, “It might end up that we have to search each anomaly separately, but first, increase power to the sensors.  We may be able to penetrate the anomalies.”

            Kestner did as he said and once again activated the long-range sensors.  He looked at the readouts then reported, “Captain, sensors still cannot penetrate the gaseous anomalies.”

            Bateson thought for a moment then said, “Emergency power to the sensors.  If I can help it, I want to keep the ship from going into them.”

            Kestner watched as the power increased to the sensors.  He then activated the sensors again and looked at the readouts.  He then turned and said, “Captain, the sensors have penetrated the anomalies, but there are objects in it and most of them could be considered as a ship.”

            Bateson hit his fist against the armrest of the chair.  He finally ordered, “Red alert.  Raise shields and arm weapons.  All decks to battle stations.”  Bateson turned back to look at the viewscreen.  On it was the red, green, blue, purple, and orange colors of the gaseous anomalies.  Bateson said, “Andy, set course for the closest object, but do not engage yet.  Derek, how many probes do we have onboard?”

            Kestner checked his board for the probe count then said, “Fifteen, Captain, however we could take the warheads off of some of the photon torpedoes and reprogram them for a probe.”

            Bateson thought for a moment then said, “Get someone working on it.  Derek, while they are doing that, fire a probe to the first object, hopefully it will tell us what it is.”

            “Aye, sir,” Kestner said.  He pressed a button on his board.  A probe fired out toward the nearest object.  Kestner turned to Bateson and said, “Probe away, Captain.”

            Bateson waited patently as Kestner reported in the information that the probe sent back.  Kestner finally turned and said, “Probe sending back data, Captain.”  There was a pause as Kestner looked at the information that was coming back through.  He then turned and said, “It’s an asteroid, Captain.  That’s the object, sir.”

            Bateson sat back aggravated.  He didn’t want to go in there blind, but at this rate, it would take years to find the pirates.  He thought for a moment.  Suddenly a smile spread across his face.  He said, “Everyone, go to the observation lounge for briefing.”

            One by one the officers stood.  They walked to the turbolift, which carried them to the observation deck.  When the officers had all taken their seats, Bateson said, “I believe I have found a way to draw the pirates out.”

            “How is that, Captain?” Bush asked.

            “We already know that their target is trading vessels, so, if we get the people of Sirius VII to send out a trading vessel, maybe we can draw them out of the anomaly and force them to surrender,” Bateson said putting it before the crew.

            Dayton said, “Captain, will Governor Kaa’lor be up to it?”

            Bateson nodded.  “I agree with you, Wizz, Governor Kaa’lor will be a problem, but I believe if it will help bring the pirates out, they will help us.”  Everyone nodded in agreement.  Bateson stood and said, “Alright, then let’s get to work, Andy, set a course for Sirius VII.  Derek, see if you can’t go down to the torpedo bays and help them set up some more probes, we might need them.”

            The officers stood as Bateson did and let him leave the room first.  The rest followed, going off do their separate jobs.  Welch set a course for Sirius VII.

 

            “Coming up on Sirius VII,” Welch reported.

            “Standard orbit, Andy,” Bateson ordered.

            The Bozeman slowed and began to orbit the blue planet of Sirius VII.  Welch reported, “Standard orbit, Captain.”

            Bateson turned to look back at Dayton and said, “Wizz, hail Governor Kaa’lor.”

            Dayton hailed the planet below then turned and said, “Captain, I have him onscreen.”

            Bateson turned to look at the viewscreen and said, “Onscreen.”  The blue planet was replaced by the image of Governor Kaa’lor.  “Governor Kaa’lor, this is Captain Morgan Bateson of the U.S.S. Bozeman.  I believe we have found a solution to finding the pirates.”

            “It’s about time, Captain, what took you so long,” was Governor Kaa’lor’s reply.           

            Bateson ignored Governor Kaa’lor’s pun and said, “Governor Kaa’lor, as you know, the pirates are after trading vessels.  Our plan is to send a trading vessel through a normal trading lane.  When the pirates come out after the ship, we will apprehend them.”

            The Governors face was not a pleased one.  He said, “I do not like your plan, Captain.  We have lost five ships to these pirates already, I do not want to lose one more to them.  How can I be sure that you will offer full protection to them?”

            Bateson said, “I can assure you, Governor, that we will protect the trading vessel at all costs.”

            The Governor was still not convinced.  He said, “Captain Bateson, I am sure you think you can protect them, but my people are not very happy with me as it is.  If you fail at this, Captain, it will probably mean my governorship.  Don’t fail.”

            “I wont, Governor Kaa’lor.  Prepare a trading vessel and have it hail us before it leaves orbit of Sirius VII, we’ll be ready up here, Bateson out,” Bateson told him.

            Bateson sat back into his chair.  He had to get just outside of the pirates sensor range, but he didn’t know what the range was.  He decided that he would go out to where the trading vessel would be just inside their sensors.  Hopefully they would be too worried about the trading vessel to worry about the Bozeman.  Bateson said, “Andy, take us out to where the trading vessel will be just inside our sensors.”

            “Aye, Captain,” Welch said.  He pressed a few prompts on his console and the Bozeman slowly left orbit of Sirius VII and was moving toward the location where the vessel would be just inside of their sensors. 

 

            “Captain, the trading vessel is hailing us from orbit of Sirius VII,” Dayton reported from the comm. station.  “They only have audio, no visual, sir.”

            “Put them on speakers then,” Bateson ordered.

            As the speakers crackled to life a voice said, “I am Captain Va’lor of the Freighter Crigston, we are ready to help you if we can.”

            Bateson said, “Very good, Captain Va’lor.  You may now leave orbit.  Make your course for the normal trading lanes.”

            “We will do as you suggest,” Captain Va’lor said.  “Freighter Crigston, out.”

            For the next several minutes, they watched as the freighter goes on a normal trading route through normal space.  After fifteen minutes, Kestner reported, “Captain, they are now leaving our sensor radius.”

            “Alright.  Andy, put them back just inside our sensor range and keep them there,” Bateson ordered.

            “Aye, sir,” Welch said. 

            For the next twenty minutes, nothing happened.  Kestner noticed that at if they did not change course, it would take them to under fifteen thousand kilometers of the gaseous anomalies.  Kestner turned and told Bateson what he had found.  Bateson said, “I would bet my Grandmother that’s where they will attack.  How long until they get there?”

            “Three minutes at their present speed, Captain,” Kestner said.

            “Very well, Red Alert, prepare to attack,” Bateson ordered. 

            The next three minutes dragged on without end…then it was over.  Kestner scanned the area then quickly looked at the readouts.  “Captain, I have a vessel coming out of the anomaly on an attack course for the Crigston.”

            “Very well.  Andy, set course for the Crigston, full impulse power.  Whitney, prepare to fire on the pirate ship,” Bateson ordered.

            Without saying a word, Welch and Mrs. Foreman went straight to work.  The Bozeman flew forward toward the freighter.  Bateson asked, “Derek, how many lifesigns on the pirates ship?”

            Kestner took a quick look at the sensor readouts then said, “Captain, there are nine lifesigns onboard.”

            “Very well, Whitney, target the pirate ship,” Bateson said.  He turned to Dayton and said, “Hail the pirate ship.”

            Dayton did as he was told.  He then turned and said, “I have them onscreen.”

 

            Sheffield stood beside Mrs. Foreman at the security station behind Captain Bateson.  He knew that his duty was to protect the ship, and he would do that at all costs.  He watched as everyone on the bridge prepared to see the faces of the pirates. 

            Bateson said, “Put them onscreen, Wizz.”  The face of a human male and female replaced the pirating vessel.  Something about them caught his attention.  It was almost like he knew who they were, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.  As he looked at them, the past tried surface once more.  Before it could bother him, he pushed it back down inside of him.

            The pirate on the screen said, “What is the meaning of this?”

            “I am Captain Morgan Bateson of the U.S.S. Bozeman.  For months now you have been attacking trading freighters coming from Sirius VII to other planets in the Federation and vice-versa.  We are here to stop it, your pirating acts will not be allowed anymore.  Lower your shields and prepare to be beamed over to our ship,” Bateson said in a stern voice.

            The woman only smiled and said, “Captain Bateson, we do not care what the Federation wants, we are not members of the Federation.  This is the way we survive, Captain, are you going to take that away from us?  I can tell you one thing, we will not go down without a fight.”

            “I would not suggest fighting the Bozeman.  Many ships much larger and more powerful than yours have tried and failed to fight the Bozeman.  Just hand yourself over to us, the Federation will be fair in your punishment,” Bateson said.

            “Ha, the Federation.  No doubt you’ll hand us over to the people of Sirius VII, and their methods of discipline are somewhat harsh,” the male replied.

            “We do not have orders to hand you over to the people of Sirius VII.  I have discussed this matter with Governor Kaa’lor, and as far as I’m concerned, unless I receive different orders, we will return you to stand before the Federation Security Council,” Bateson answered.  “If you do not hand yourself over, we will be forced to destroy you.  If you will just transport over here willingly, I’ll put in a good word for you.”

            At this the female leaned over to the male and whispered something to him.  He then nodded and said, “You drive a hard bargain, Captain Bateson.  We agree to your terms.”

            “Very well, we will contact you when we are ready to beam you over,” Bateson said.  With that, the pirate ship returned to the viewscreen.  He turned to Sheffield and said, “Mr. Sheffield, go down to the brig and prepare it for nine people.  When you’ve done that take a security team to the transporter room and call me when you are ready for them to beam over.”

 

            The male pirate, Creg Gold, sat around with his fellow pirates.  He looked over at his wife and said, “Are you sure it was him?”

            She nodded.  “Yes, it is him, and we must kill him.  If he was to tell the Federation all that he knows, we could be in a lot of trouble.”

            Everyone sitting around the bridge of the ship nodded in agreement.  They knew that the Starfleet Officer must not live, if he did, they could all face harsh punishment.  Creg said, “Alright, when Captain Bateson hails us, we’ll be transported over to their ship.  When we get the chance, we must kill him.”

 

            Sheffield walked toward the turbolift from the brig.  He tapped his communicator and said, “Sheffield to Bateson.”

            “Bateson here, go ahead,” Bateson said.

             “Captain, the brig is ready and I’m on my way to the transporter room,” Sheffield said.

            “Alright, I’ll hail the pirates and tell them we are almost ready to transport them,” Bateson said.

            “Aye, sir.  Sheffield out.”  Sheffield stepped into the turbolift, which quickly took him to the transporter room. 

            As he walked into the transporter room, he saw three security officers already standing there.  He again tapped his communicator and said, “Sheffield to Bateson.  Security team is in the transporter room.”

            “They are transporting…now.”  As Bateson said this, nine columns of light appeared on the transporter pad.

            The man and woman who were on the viewscreen previously was now standing in the front of the party.  Something about them reminded Sheffield of people from his past.  He quickly pushed the thought out of his mind; he had work to do.  He stepped forward and said, “I am Lieutenant Michael Sheffield.  My orders are to take you to the brig, I am sure that Captain Bateson will like to speak to you in a little while.”

            “I must speak to Captain Bateson now,” the man in front said.

            Sheffield said, “I am afraid that is impossible right now.  Captain Bateson is taking care of ships business, but he will be by to see you shortly.  Will you please follow me?”

            With that he turned and walked out of the transporter room.  He looked back and saw that all nine of them were following him, followed by the three security officers.  He turned to the turbolift doors and let them slide open before him.  He let the pirates walk in first as he followed with the security team. 

            Within moments the turbolift arrived at their destination.  As Sheffield was about to step off he felt a weapon stick into his back.  The man said, “I would suggest you get back in the lift.  We’ll go see the Captain now.”

            Sheffield stepped back into the turbolift and said, “Bridge.”  A small hum notified them that they were moving.  Within moments the lift doors opened on the bridge. 

            “Step out,” the man said.  “Slowly.” 

            Slowly Sheffield stepped out of the turbolift followed by the man with the weapon.  The man whispered in his ear, “Walk down to the lower level of the bridge, nice and easy like.”

            Sheffield did as the man said and walked down the ramp.  Bateson looked up as they turned to corner with a look of puzzlement that turned to shock.  He stood and said, “What are you doing?”

            “Getting reacquainted with my son, Captain Bateson,” the man said.

            “Your son?” Bateson asked.  “Sheffield, why didn’t you tell me?”

            Sheffield hung his head and said, “I did not recognize them, sir, but since they are here, they will kill me.  That is why no matter what they say, don’t do it.”

            “What do you mean they will kill you?” Bateson asked.

            Sheffield was silent for a moment.  Sheffield’s father pushed the weapon into his back and said, “Go ahead tell him.”

            Sheffield said, “I was born on a planet in the corner of Federation Space.  There the Federation rules and regulations are not followed as strictly as most other planets.  It is filled with pirates and other such trash of the galaxy.  There, the people are very strict, if you kill someone, you get killed kinda thing.”  Michael paused then said, “My mother and father were pirates from the beginning, but I didn’t know it.

            “One day I found them making a deal with a Cardassian pirate telling him that they would help him to take over the Federation.  At the time I did not know what they were doing, but somehow my mother and father found out that I overheard them.  I overheard them planning to kill me one night when I followed them into the mysterious garage outside my house I was never allowed to go in.  The reason I wasn’t allowed to go in it was because it held their pirating ship.  When I heard that I got scared and got the first ship off of the planet. 

            “Knowing that they were trying to find me I spent my life running until I got one ship that took me to San Francisco, Earth.  There I saw Starfleet Academy and decided to join Starfleet because I knew my parents wouldn’t find me.  I made up a new name and joined the Academy.  Ever since them I have been fighting my past, wanting to keep it inside me, “ he turned to face his father, “but no more.”

            With those words said he knocked the tiny weapon out of his father’s hand and it fell to the floor.  Before his father could move toward the weapon, he punched his father, who fell to the floor.  He quickly picked up the phaser and pointed it at his father, “You will all drop your weapons now or I will shoot him.”

            For a moment, everyone stood still, waiting for someone else to do something.  Finally, the nine pirates dropped their weapons on the floor.  Sheffield looked relieved as he said, “You all made the right choice.”

            Bateson smiled, “Good work, Mr. Sheffield.  Take the pirates down to the brig.  We will be taking them to Starbase Five where they will then be sent to stand before the Federation Security Council, without my consent, I mind you.”

 

            Bateson sat in the command chair of the U.S.S. Bozeman.  He turned to Dayton and said, “Hail Starbase Five and tell them we are now leaving.”

            “Aye, sir,” Dayton said. 

            While Dayton was doing this Bateson stood and said, “Mr. Sheffield, I would like to see you in my ready room.”

            “Aye, sir,” Sheffield said.

            Sheffield followed Bateson into his ready room.  Bateson sat down behind the desk and motioned toward the chair in front of the desk.  Sheffield sat down and said, “You wanted to see me, sir?”

            “Yes,” Bateson said.  “I wanted to know how you are handling all of this.  It must be hard for you to come face-to-face with your parents like that, and they want to kill you.”

            Sheffield sat with an emotionless face as he said, “Captain, with all due respect, I have no parents.  I have accepted the fact that those two people who are my maternal parents are not my real parents.  Parents are supposed to be loving and caring, but as you saw, they had neither of those traits. 

“Although I might have been a better person if I had parents, but I am what I am, and I cannot change the past.  As far as my past goes sir, I am ashamed of it, but I know now that if you hold up the past inside of you, it will come back to haunt you.  Mine came back in the living flesh.”

            “I have always noticed,” Bateson said, “that we can sometimes teach ourselves more than we can teach others.  Can you return to your post?”

            “Of course, Captain,” Sheffield said.

            “Then you are excused.  Return to the bridge,” Bateson said.  Bateson turned to look at the stars out of the viewport as Sheffield walked out.  He didn’t know how Sheffield would take all these things, but he looked to be a person who could do many things.  He also had a strong mental ability, which Bateson couldn’t understand, but he would like to understand better.