Stardate: 70717:2325
Title: New Civilisations, Part 2
Author: Captain Deadilus
Time: After "New Civilisations, Part 1"
Scene: USS Horizon


Captain Deadilus looked Ensign Cochran squarely in the eyes, a mutual look of surprise and concern passing across the short space between them.

"Check the readings, Ensign," Deadilus ordered. "Shields up, yellow alert."

As Benjamin tapped away on the small isolated console in front, everyone else on the bridge could only wait.

"Confirmed, Sir," Cochran began. "All sub-channels are reading correctly, and the ship ID is confirmed as the USS Horizon, NCC-72400, both electronically and visually. I have also confirmed that they are receiving our hails."

"Captain, it could be a trap," Lt. Smith warned from behind.

"Helm, all stop. I want a full scan of that vessel carried out before we get any closer." Standing orders were clear and a ship in distress was to be responded to, but the Temporal Prime Directive was clearer still, put in place to prohibit time travelling personnel from interfering in past timelines.

"Sir, receiving a hail," Lieutenant Falls announced from the Operations console. "Should I put it onscreen?"

"No! Anything we do risks altering the future. Simply reply with a 'Standby' message, and then signal the Senior Staff to meet in the Observation Lounge immediately."

~

As the departmental heads sat around the table discussing whether or not to respond to the 'other' USS Horizon, it became clear that everyone was thinking the same thing - if their future selves had travelled back in time, then it must have been for a reason. But what could possibly be so bad that they would risk corrupting entire timelines to prevent it?

Given that they had little choice in the matter, except to completely ignore the other vessel, the Senior Staff fell into a reluctant agreement to respond to their 'colleagues' on the other Horizon. As Autumn connected their small screen to the communications link with the future-Horizon, everyone looked on.

After a few seconds the United Federation of Planets logo was replaced with the image of a mid-20's female wearing a Captain's uniform stood on the Bridge of their future ship.

"Captain, before you start," Scott began, "I must point out to you that your being here and communicating with us places you in direct violation of the Starfleet Temporal Prime Directive."

"Captain Deadilus," the unidentified Captain began. "Where we are from, there is no Starfleet..."


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Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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