Stardate: 71028:1200
Title: Message in a Bottle (Part II)
Author: Emma Smith
Time: The Year of our Lord 2473
Scene: Time's Arrow - Rennas Home World - Future Horizon


"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." The future had counted on a cake-walk. But as I said before, time has a way of fending for itself. Who could foresee the terrible luck of arriving at the planet as the Rennas were conducting a routine patrol.


=/\= Time's Arrow =/\=

"Drop us out of warp," Benchly commanded.

The helm promptly responded. Thus far, the mission was going perfectly. "Almost too perfect," Robert thought in passing.

"Sir, we're within range."

"Lay in the coordinates for the catacombs."

"Aye, Sir."

Benchly's next order would have been to fire at will. Unfortunately, the words never left his lips.

Before the Rennas' boarding party could reach the bridge, still writhing in pain, Benchly managed his way to the communication console and touched the screen.

{Pod away.} Came the computer's monotone reply.

Their great success was now a wash and what little hope was left would bank on the contingency plan.


=/\= Planet-Side =/\=

The war stories from the time of the Rennas had hardly done justice to the true horrors that had awaited them. Captain Robert Benchly refused to look away, he owed his crew more than their last memory of life being a sniveling captain cowering in fear. With true resolve he faced and watched as one by one, each member of his crew was devoured by a different Rennas, their bones then being irreverently tossed into an empty room and knowing full well that his destiny was inevitable.


=/\= Future Horizon - Above orbit of the Rennas' Homeworld - 2417 =/\=

Captain Lily Anna Deadilus was new to command. The fact that the Provincial Government had awarded her not only a ship, but an important recognizance mission at the tender age of 27 was almost unheard of. Still, who better than the only daughter of Captain Scott Deadilus, of the botched Rennas First Contact infamy.

Her orders were clear. "Do not engage the enemy."

"Captain, we've detected something... a capsule, I think... just off the port bow."

Her orders didn't include anything about inanimate objects.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Bring it on board," she ordered.


=/\= Post Log =/\=

Benchly's message had not only transcended time...it had not fallen on deaf ears. Captain Lily Anna Deadilus had taken the Arrow's message to heart. Not for vanity's sake in restoring her father's honor, but for humanity's sake.

Time had indeed fended for itself. Destiny's finger that had pointed at the Horizon's botched First Contact mission had been found to be fickle indeed, for it had been the Arrow not the Horizon that had ignited the Rennas' passion for the delicacy of human flesh.

The Arrow's mission had almost worked, the fly in the ointment was in the choosing of the date.

An idea began to formulate in her mind......"We can go back..." Lily announced to her superiors..."and interrupt First contact."


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