Tales of Starfleet
Aurora - Epilogue
by Phillip Barlow
(p.barlow@ic.ac.uk)

Aurora - Epilogue

Epilogue 1
August 2154

Captain Deborah Pescott sat in the captain's chair on the bridge of the Columbia, her fingers steepled in front of her, watching the viewscreen as the planet orbited below. The Columbia had been here for almost three weeks, orbiting the planet and straining its sensors forward in the hope of finding some sign of the Aurora. They had been on the last part of the trials designed to test the Experimental Storage Battery, testing the ship's improved endurance away from its tanker. The Pathfinder had been left behind six weeks ago as the Columbia headed towards unexplored space. Because they had gone away from Echo 28, they had not received the fleet recall order for some time. When it did come, it was right on top of the signal saying that the Aurora was missing. Pescott had decided that instant that searching for her friend and mentor was more important than some possible threat from the Romulans.

"Anything?" she asked.

"Nothing Captain," replied Lt Commander Fitzgerald, her first officer. "Captain, we're approaching the limit." Pescott frowned; they had not been scheduled to be out this long. Even the extended endurance given them by the battery did not take away the fact that the Columbia was a fusion-powered starship, dependent on a deuterium tanker. And now they were close to reaching the point where the Pathfinder would have to dip into its own fuel supply to give the Columbia enough to return to Earth.

"Captain," said Ensign Callaghan, the ship's helmsman. "Four ships have just dropped out of warp."

"On screen." The main viewer changed to show an NX class vessel, accompanied by a pair of Essex class cruisers and a tanker, approaching at impulse.

"We're being hailed."

"On screen."

"This is Captain Dexter Bergman of the starship Yorktown. Captain Pescott, I believe you're under orders to head back to Earth space."

"I assume you're here to bring us back?"

"Not at all. We've only just heard the recall order. I assume that's the case with you too?" Pescott nodded carefully. "Then may I suggest you signal your tanker; it's probably getting near its fuel limit. You can ride with us. I'd like to see just how good that battery of yours is." With a cheery smile, Bergman signed off, and the screen changed back to the view of the Yorktown and its companions.

"Ensign Callaghan," said Pescott. "Set course for Earth, maximum warp."

"Aye captain."

* * *

September 2154

Earth's main spacedock was a hive of activity, with cargo haulers and shuttlepods fussing around the dozen or so ships moored inside. Pescott watched all of this activity from the passenger seat of an inspection pod, where she was waiting for Commodore Halifax, the commander of her flotilla. It had been two weeks since the Columbia had returned, most of which she and her crew had spent being debriefed by the engineers at Jupiter Station. Even now, the ship was sat in a drydock with engineering teams crawling all over it with a fine toothcomb. None of that concerned her significantly. What did was the PADD in her hand, which displayed a communiqué from Admiral Forrest, the Starfleet Chief of Operations. It was hard to believe that this threat from the Romulans was so great that a dozen obsolete starships were being reactivated to bolster the fleet. Yet, there was the evidence in front of her - a pair of Declaration class vessels at the fueling dock.

"All set?" said Halifax as she dropped into the pod's pilot seat. She activated the launch control, which sealed the airlock and engaged the thrusters. Halifax then nudged the pod forward, slowly at first, then increasing speed towards the space doors. As they approached, the doors began to creep open. Outside, Pescott could see another Declaration class ship under tow, followed by an NX class vessel. The pod scooted through the doors just before the St George was brought through, allowing Pescott to see more clearly that the NX ship was the Ranger.

"I thought it was agreed that NX class ships weren't to be treated like the rest of the fleet," said Pescott, referring to the communiqué she still held.

"Quite right," replied Halifax, "and they won't be, unless the Romulans, or anyone else, decides to try something. This reorganisation of the fleet is to provide a little more security than we have. It makes sense to have our most powerful vessels involved in that more formally than they are." The pod had turned away from the main spacelanes and was now heading for the shipyards. Passing close by, Pescott could see all six of Harland & Wolff's drydocks contained more Declarations, as did three of the San Francisco Fleet Yard's facilities. But, it was to the docks of the Warp Five Complex that the pod was headed. There were only three of these - again, each contained a ship, all of which were incomplete. Two of them were the Sigma and the Faith, the final two planned NX class units, each being built to the same specifications as the lost Aurora. The third drydock held something completely different, and it was to this that the pod turned.

* * *

"The Daedalus," said Pescott.

"Starfleet has yet to confirm that name," replied Halifax. "This is still Hull 1001." Pescott rolled her eyes - in the two years this ship had been under construction, it had been the NX Mk2 Project, the NX Enhanced Project and the NY Project; it was one of the worst kept secrets in Starfleet that it would be commissioned as the starship Daedalus.

"What's it got to do with me?"

"Starfleet wants to appoint you as the captain."

"Me?"

"It was initially offered to Archer, but he declined. So, we offered Sinclair the choice of the Aurora, or another tour on the Thunderchief until this was ready. He took the Aurora, but suggested we talk to you. After all, you were his first officer for five years."

"But this?"

"It's a great opportunity. Will you take it?"

"Well..."

* * *

September 2155

Pescott sat in the captain's chair, watching the viewscreen. She could see spacesuited figures bustling about, trying to make sure everything was set. Except that it wasn't, and everbody knew it. The rush to meet the set launch date had caused everyone to get behind, with the result that the Daedalus was still three months from being fully spaceworthy. So, in order to avoid looking foolish, which they would have done if the ship hadn't launched on time when the date had been so publicly announced, Starfleet had decided to launch the Daedalus, and send her to a secret location to complete fitting out.

"Captain?" said Fitzgerald.

"Alright Mr Fitz, let's get this farce under way. Clear our departure." As Fitz opened the channel to the dockmaster, Pescott sat back and mused on the situation - the launch of Starfleet's next generation of starship, and there were no dignitaries, no bunting, no streamers, flags or revellers. Eight months ago, the Sigma had departed to bands and cheers. Now, the Daedalus was leaving to just the waving of the dockhands. If that didn't make Starfleet look foolish, she didn't know what did.

"We're clear for departure captain."

"Very well. Release umbilicals and engage thrusters. Hold at station."

"Standing by captain." Pescott sat forward in her chair. Farce or not, this was still her ship, and she was determined that its first launch would look good.

"Thrusters ahead. Take us out."

Epilogue 2

The Sullivan system was remarkable in its mediocrity. A G2 type star occupied its heart, still shining yellow, around which circled ten unremarkable planets, four terrestrial and six gas giant. There was the usual collection of cometary bodies and asteroids; in fact, it was so like the Sol system that nobody from the Federation had ever bothered to explore it, beyond the long range scans of unmanned probes as they passed. The scans had determined that there was only one Class M planet, the third, but that this had no sign at all of intelligent life. After this, no one had paid it much mind, beyond maintaining its position in the star charts.

"Now entering the Sullivan system," said Spearritt as the Mariner slowed to impulse.

"Sensors?"

"I am focusing on the third planet," said Lt Giovanni at the ops console. "I am detecting life form readings, although at this distance I can't be more specific. I am also picking up what appear to be energy readings."

"What kind of energy?" asked White.

"Fusion energy."

* * *

The Mariner was in orbit of Sullivan III. The planet was a little smaller than Earth, and a little drier, although it did have most of the same climatic regions. And, down in the sub-tropical region, very near the planet's equator, was a large clearing in the rough shape of an NX class starship. A few kilometres to the south of this was what appeared to be a large, bustling settlement.

White looked around the bridge at the faces of her crew, all of who were staring at the screen.

"Life signs?" she said.

"I'm detecting over 20,000 individuals," said Lt Campbell. "Some human, some Vulcan, some..." she paused as she stared at the monitor.

"Well?"

"Some Bajoran, and some combinations of each."

"Captain," said Burke. "A small vessel has just been launched from the surface. It's on an intercept course."

"Yellow alert." The silent alarms began to flash as the ship's alert status was upgraded. The screen showed a tiny speck rising from the settlement towards the Mariner. Eventually, it grew into the recognisable shape of a shuttlecraft, albeit one that was unfamiliar to most of the crew.

"We're being hailed," said Burke.

"On screen." The image changed to show the cockpit of the shuttle. In the pilot's seat was a human male, with a Bajoran sitting next to him at the operator's console.

"I'm Lt Ray Tanner of the Aurora City Security Force. Identify yourselves."

"This is Captain Rebecca White of the USS Mariner, representing the United Federation of Planets."

"Human?" said Tanner, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "From Earth?"

"Yes," replied White. Tanner looked at his companion. "We're here looking for information about the starship Aurora."

"I'll need to consult my superiors. Can you follow us?" White looked at the bridge crew.

"We'll launch a shuttlecraft immediately and follow you down." Tanner nodded and cut the channel. White then got up. "Giovanni, Campbell, you're with me." She touched her communicator. "Lt Moon, Lt Ryan, meet me in the shuttlebay. Commander Bowman, the ship is yours."

"Captain..." started Bowman before White stopped her.

"No lectures Number One. The ship is yours."

* * *

The Mariner's shuttlecraft sat on the 'tarmac' of the small landing field. Next to it was the shuttle it had followed in, which bore the name Trident. On the other side of the field sat three more shuttles, Regulus, Polaris and Poseidon. As White, Moon, Campbell, Giovanni and Ryan walked across to the small building, escorted by Tanner and his co-pilot, they saw a small group moving towards them.

"Well Lieutenant?" asked the man at the head of the group.

"I've checked the sensors Governor. They are definitely human. There also appear to be several other species on their ship, including Vulcans, Bajorans and Andorians." As Tanner finished speaking, White held her hand.

"Captain Rebecca White, USS Mariner, from the United Federation of Planets. Allow me to present my officers, Lieutenant Moon, Lieutenant Giovanni, Lieutenant Campbell and Lieutenant Ryan."

"Governor Simon Sinclair, of the Aurora City Council." The Governor shook White's hand firmly. "Well, you seem real enough. Where was it you said you came from?"

"The United Federation of Planets. A group of over 150 worlds, including Earth, Vulcan and Bajor, that have joined together for their mutual benefit." The Governor turned to his fellows, who included both Vulcans and Bajorans.

"It seems we have some catching up to do." He turned back to White. "Are you and your ship free to stay awhile?"

"I think that can be arranged," replied White, smiling as she wondered how she was going to explain all of this to Starfleet.

"Good," said the Governor. "The you can stay for tea and tell us all about it. And start from the beginning."

"Well," began White as the group headed into the building. "It all began..."

The End