Stardate: 70804:1729
Title: Keeping It In The Family (Part 1)
Author: Scott Deadilus
Time: Current
Scene: USS Horizon, Ready Room
With the away team preparing to meet the race that would potentially destroy the
Federation in the future, Captain Deadilus kept a watchful eye on their
future-selves.
The other Horizon had kept their distance, following their own vessel towards
the planet. Although this worried Scott a little, he was more frustrated with
what he couldn't put his finger on - there was something familiar about the
other Captain...
Deciding that there was time to allow him to (and little potential harm in)
contacting the other Captain, he tapped a few buttons on his console, opening a
channel to the other Horizon. After a short pause the connection came through,
the pair of Captains both sat in the same Ready Room, albeit forty years apart.
{Captain Deadilus,} she began. {I was wondering when you would contact me. I was
beginning to think you wouldn't.} She smiled at him, obviously joking.
"Captain, I feel we need to speak more about why you returned here. I have no
intention of delaying the away team, but I also wouldn't mind knowing a little
more about the 'future history' you have experienced."
{Perhaps it is best we meet in person. There is much I have to tell you, but
some of it you may wish to confirm through other sources.}
It was a rather cryptic response to say the least, but Scott agreed for the
other Captain to beam over before his mind became focussed wholly on his crew
and the away team in particular.
~
As the blue beam dissipated, leaving the female Captain in its wake, Scott found
himself looking at her uniform - although relatively clean, it was obviously not
fresh on. Noticing his gaze and disapproving look, she was quick to explain.
"Our energy reserves are severely limited and therefore strictly controlled.
Uniform replication is only done as and when necessary, as is food and
equipment. But that is a matter for discussion later."
"My apologies, Captain," Scott began. "Since a tour of the ship would be
pointless, I think we had best get to the heart of the matter, and since I would
rather the majority of the crew did not know about this meeting until
afterwards, it is best we head directly to the Ready Room."
"Agreed." There was a short pause before they moved to head out of the
Transporter Room and back to the Captain's office.
~
As the pair of officers sat across from each other, they had discussed much of
future history. Lily Anna (as he had found her name to be) had recounted the
details of battles not yet fought and the deaths of people not yet born in an
attempt to get the Captain to reverse his decision. But even though she
obviously could, she neglected to mention any of those onboard the present-day
Horizon, and wary of second-guessing his own decisions, Scott could not pursue
that line of questioning. For someone sent back in time to change the future,
she seemed to be leaving a few gaps...
"The Science department has scanned your vessel several times, and Engineering
have gone over the data as well - coupled with the fact that Tachyon emissions
were found, I think I can safely say that we all believe you are from the
future. What I think we all have problems with is why now? Why us?" Scott's line
of questioning had subtly changed over the course of their conversation, but
abrupt questioning was now called for.
Lily paused, obviously re-evaluating a decision in her head. A silent few
moments passed before she looked Scott directly in the eyes.
"Because you're my father."
=================
Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
=================
