Stardate: 71009:1200
Title: May the Circle Be Unbroken
Author: Emma Smith
Time: Current
Scene: USS Horizon - Captain's Ready Room

~
"May the circle Be unbroken In the sky, Lord In the sky."

It's funny how certain situations remind us of songs. In a way it's comforting to think that no matter how odd a thing might be... someone's been through it before.

~

The buzz at the door prompted the Captain to quickly tap his console, removing the high security message from his screen.

"Enter."

"Captain," Emma began, "Commander Falls should be released for duty soon."

"Lily?"

"Still unconscious, but stable. The same goes for Ensign Colón. Doctor Matthews is putting him through detox as we speak."

Scott nodded. "Anything else?"

Emma handed him the PADD that held the CMO's report.

"A human bone?"

"After seeing that, it occurred to me, Captain... What if Lily's Horizon wasn't the first attempt of the future to change the past?"

Scott turned his line of sight back toward the now blank monitor. "Indeed." He took a deep breath. "Well, if that's all..."

"Not exactly, Sir. I'd like permission to go after Ensign Sparky."

"And exactly how would you accomplish that? If we could cut through the structural interference we'd have already beamed him back."

"I was thinking shuttle, Sir."

"Once on the surface, you'd be on the floor writing in pain, again."

Emma had come prepared. "I spoke to Lieutenant Remmick; he believes that he can modify a Class-1 probe to serve as a resonator, of sorts. We can deliver it from orbit to the subsurface of the planet. Once there, the harmonics should disrupt the Rennas' telepathic abilities."

"For how long?"

"About 11 minutes."

Scott shook his head. "That isn't much time to find a needle in a haystack, Lieutenant."

"More like, looking for a great big Borg in a beehive. He knows we have the exact coordinates of the Banquet Room. My guess is that he'll try to make his way there."

The Captain leaned back wearily in his chair and considered their options. "Very well. You'll have exactly 10 minutes after you land. No more. Use whatever force necessary to get him out. If you don't find him in those 10 minutes...use the last one to get yourselves out of there. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

"One last thing..."

"Yes, Sir?"

"You aren't much of a pilot."

"True." Emma smiled. "But Ensign Ross is..."

"Agreed. Dismissed."


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Lt. (J.G.) Emma Smith
Security Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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