The Next Generation
Threat of Extinction
by Adam Erik Batkay
(adambatkay@comcast.net)

Threat of Extinction

Captain Picard stood at the doorway of the Althanian shuttlepod. He knew that this shuttlepod had been programmed to return his landing party to the Enterprise-D, but he wished he could leave Althane V in the same shuttlecraft he had arrived in. But as Will Riker had reminded him just moments ago, experimental Starfleet shuttlecraft did have a significantly increased chance of catastrophic structural breakdown. Well, Picard thought wryly, in addition to the vaccine against the new strain of the Denebian Flu, now we have brought another useful item – the inoperative shuttlecraft. At least I'm in good company, Picard continued his thought, the shuttlecraft that Captain James T. Kirk arrived in to deliver the very first vaccine to Althane V also suffered from a complete structural breakdown. He smiled as he turned to face his small audience.

"People of Althane V," Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the Starship Enterprise-D, stated, "You are once again free of the Denebian Flu. Although you were vulnerable to it, you will now be immune to the flu." The two dozen or so Althanians that assembled to see off Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William Riker, and Doctor Beverly Crusher cheered and filled the courtyard with a joyous noise. Picard felt pleased to have personally helped liberate this planet from a disease that had killed Althanians as the plagues of Earth had once killed humans.

He smiled and gave the Althanian Salute for Future Health, a salute composed of a series of complex arm motions. It expressed a farewell, but not a final parting, between two old allies – on this day, Althane V and the United Federation of Planets. Those who gathered returned the salute and cheered again. Picard could now leave the planet, he had officially bid adieu to a representative portion of the population of Althane V, thus fulfilling his final diplomatic duty on a planet with a healthy future ahead.

Picard, after giving a final wave, ducked inside the shuttlepod. The feeling of pure joy that had engulfed him was so distinct that, even though he did not have the abilities of Deanna Troi, his half-Betazoid ship's counselor, he certainly picked up on it. He felt the waves of happiness roll through him, and knew he would remember this day well.

Riker, sitting in the control section of the small shuttlepod, keyed the door to close. The vehicle's auto-pilot took control, swinging the Althanian shuttlepod around in a lazy arc and launching it skyward. The courtyard was left behind as the shuttlepod headed for the cold darkness of space beyond the atmosphere of Althane V. Doctor Crusher, already seated, turned as Picard entered the central area of the shuttlepod. She thought that Picard, like her former husband, always looked good in a dress uniform. She clearly remembered that dress uniforms had been worn on the day that Jack Crusher and Captain Jean-Luc Picard shipped off together for their mission on the Stargazer. Beverly willed away the memories of Jack Crusher - they were still painful to remember, even now, years later. Picard headed for the seat opposite Beverly Crusher and sat down with a sigh of relief.

She waited as Picard loosened the collar of his tunic and then said, "You looked very handsome today, Jean-Luc."

Picard smiled and replied playfully, "Beverly, I thought you were a doctor, not a Men's fashion critic. Sorry, . . . ahem, all joking aside, I thank you for the compliment. Back when I was on the Stargazer, Jack and I were always complimented on how good we looked in our dress uniforms."

I am glad that Jean-Luc always has something positive to say when he mentions Jack Crusher, but how does he always know when I have been thinking about him, Beverly thought to herself. She mentally shook her head and returned to the conversation.

Smiling, she said, "I'm puzzled, Jean-Luc . . . . I thought that it was only the Althanians who could do the Althanian Salute for Future Health and you did it really quite well, almost like a native."

Noticing that Beverly Crusher was giving him her complete attention, Picard answered, "Anyone is allowed knowledge of it. I'm surprised you didn't attempt to learn the salute in preparation for this mission. It's really quite simple – all a person needs to learn it is a healthy dose of concentration."

"And how did you get to be such an expert?" she asked.

Picard thought a minute, then recalled the many times he had watched the holo-tape recording taken of Captain Kirk's departure from Althane V after delivering the very first vaccine for the Denebian Flu. It took some reading to better understand its significance and then long hours of practice before Picard had the Althanian Salute for Future Health down to his satisfaction. He was pleased that his long training for the salute had bolstered the Althanians on this day.

Picard mentally shook himself out of his remembrances and stated, "I studied the holo-tape of James T. Kirk doing the salute when he was on Althane V. His movements while doing the Salute were smooth and accurate – very easy to copy. Then I read a book on Althanian diplomacy that had two entire chapters devoted to the Althanian Salute for Future Health . . . anyway, if you would be interested, I'd be happy to teach it to you."

The shuttlepod was quiet for awhile, until an indicator light blinked on and off, the computer's way of trying to get the attention of a passenger. It got the attention of William Riker and he glanced at the sensor screen.

"We may be getting back to the ship a little sooner than we had expected, Captain," Riker stated calmly, "We have started to move in a way these thrusters do not operate."

Picard politely ended his conversation with Doctor Crusher and went up to the control area to give his full attention to his First Officer.

"Do you mean that this shuttlepod is moving under power not its own?" Picard asked with some annoyance. He did not like the unexpected to occur after a mission was just successfully completed.

"Well, Captain, there does seem to be an external force acting upon this shuttlepod, Sir," Will Riker stated, ignoring his captain's irritation.

"What kind of force?" Picard asked in a calmer tone, picking up on William Riker's unspoken message that getting mad wasn't going to help matters any.

Riker tapped at the sensor grid controls with his fingers. As the viewing screen blinked and displayed new information, he glanced at it, and reported, "An energy field of some sort does appear to be around us, Sir, and keeping an equal spherical distance . . . it's composed of tetryons, Sir!"

Before the crew of three knew what happened, the entire shuttlepod and its passengers winked out of permanency, the response that Jean-Luc Picard managed to utter hanging in the air, "What would James Kirk do at a time like this?" Then just as suddenly the shuttle and its three passengers winked back into permanency within the Main Shuttlebay of the U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1701-D. Geordi LaForge was the only one to witness the arrival of the Althanian shuttlepod. Its sudden appearance caused him to collapse to the floor unconscious, due to an intense overdose of sensory information flooding his brain through the VISOR he wore.

There was a flash of light and suddenly a humanoid figure appeared on the bridge of the Enterprise. After the light had faded, Lieutenant-Commander Data saw that the individual deposited was Q, or rather an almost ghost-like Q. Data tried to stand, but he fell back in surprise into the command chair. Counselor Troi noticed that Data was genuinely shocked. She smiled at her turn of phrase, knowing that the android was powered by electrical currents. Data continued to just stare at Q, noting that the entity had on a Starfleet uniform from the time of the V'ger Incident.

Q looked around in amazement . . . Troi could sense that Q was astonished that he had been able to appear in any form. He glanced over to the command chair and saw that the pale-skinned android with shining yellow eyes was in command.

He addressed Data, "Data, you don't know how glad I am to see you!" The usual haughtiness was not present in his voice. "I can't believe I actually made to the Enterprise. I know you are surprised to see me in this meager form, but it was all I could manage."

Data could stand finally and he greeted the entity known as Q, "Welcome abroad, Q. I am sure that you have a very good reason for being here, and I would like to know it now, if you don't mind explaining yourself."

"Why, my dear Mister Data," Q said as he looked around the bridge, "I was just looking for your Captain. It's very important that I talk with him. Do you know where he is?"

Data shook his head, a new human gesture he had picked up recently, and replied, "This vessel is currently without Captain, First Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Q. The Captain and his landing party have not gotten back yet." Data tilted his head slightly as if considering something, "It might be some time before they get back . . . I don't know at what speeds an Althanian shuttlepod can travel."

Q looked stricken and exclaimed, "What . . . you mean to tell me that Jean-Luc isn't here?"

"That's correct, Sir. I'm sorry . . . but you should have known that before you arrived," answered Data.

"I am at a lesser capacity than I usually am," Q stated, looking scared and vulnerable, if that was possible for the almost godlike being.

Troi spoke up, "Did you get in trouble with the Continuum again, Q? I would have thought that you would have learned your lesson by now."

Q shook his head and exclaimed, "It's hopeless to try and explain what has happened to you people," he made an imperious wave indicating those present on the bridge, "Only Picard would understand my plight . . . so where is he?"

Just then the turbolift opened and Captain Picard strode onto the bridge. Picard walked over to Worf and asked, "Worf, is anything amiss? We were in transit up to the Enterprise when suddenly we disappeared in a flash of energy and reappeared inside the main Shuttlebay. Did you get any unusual readings within the last couple of minutes, Lieutenant?"

Lieutenant Worf shook his head and his ponytail slapped at his broad shoulders, "No, Sir. Although we are having a visitation by an old ‘friend'," Worf indicated the spot just behind Picard with an accusatory finger.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard turned slightly and saw Q, or what there was of him . . . he appeared this time as a ghostly image of his usual haughty self.

Picard shook his head, "I might have known this was your doing, Q. Do you realize your little prank caused Geordi LaForge to pass out? The energy that was used to teleport us into the shuttle bay gave him an overdose of sensory information through his VISOR . . . William Riker and Doctor Crusher are down in Sickbay with him now!"

Q looked shocked at the accusation, "My dear, dear Captain Picard, I cannot believe what I am hearing . Here I am expending what little energy I can to ask for your . . ."

Picard interrupted him, "Q, I don't know what game you're playing this time, but I want you to leave my ship right now!"

Q sighed and stated, "Captain, Captain, I assure you that I had nothing to do with your teleportation incident. I just arrived," pointing in Troi's direction, "as your lovely Counselor Troi will attest to."

Deanna Troi nodded and said, "He's right, Captain. He just appeared a moment before you arrived on the bridge. And, no, I don't sense any deception from him this time – he actually seems to be a weakened state."

"See, Jean-Luc, I would not lie to you!" Q exclaimed, "Now, if you don't mind, could we go and speak privately in your ready room, hmm?"

"All right, Q," he said as he headed for his ready room, "we'll talk."

Jean-Luc Picard entered his ready room with the spectral form of Q following close behind.

Picard went to the replicator, stated "Earl Grey, Hot," and picked up the steaming cup from the recess in the wall. He sat down at his desk, took a sip, and waited.

Q looked at him imploringly, a facial expression Picard was shocked to see . . . he was used to seeing a haughty look on Q's face.

"Okay, Q, it's been established that you just arrived and that you had nothing to do with the shuttlepod incident. But what exactly is so dire that you must ask my crew and I for help and while in such a sorry state of affairs, too?"

Q seemed unsure of how to begin the tale. Picard watched as the entity tried several times to start the story, but finally it seemed that Q had to resort to the absolute truth.

Q sighed and stated, "This isn't easy for me to say, Jean-Luc. It's quite embarrassing for a all-powerful being such as myself to admit that he was captured by a lower life form."

"Are you telling me that someone got the better of you, Q?" Picard asked incredulously.

"Yes, damn you, that's what I am saying, Jean-Luc," Q replied somewhat testily, "I had found a ship full of beings I had never come across before and decided to greet them."

"Greet them, hmm? Like you ‘greeted' us, Q," Jean-Luc Picard said, referring to his first encounter with the obnoxious, seemingly omnipotent entity during his first mission.

Q said, "Well, I was attempting to have some fun at their expense, yes. I was having trouble reading their surface thoughts and one of them struck me from behind with a weapon. It was merely a lucky shot, I can assure you of that!"

Picard could not help but chuckle, "So the mighty Q was knocked out by a life form ‘simpler' than himself. Life is just full of ironies, is it not?"

Q blustered, "It is not amusing, Jean-Luc. Now I am strapped into some kind of machinery that is draining my almost unlimited energy from me. That is why you are talking to a mere astral projection of me."

A look of agony crossed Q's face, as he winced in obvious pain.

"You must hurry, Jean-Luc. I heard them talking about utilizing the energy they have siphoned from me to power a weapon of great destructive power," the entity known as Q paused, then continued speaking, "They said that it can demolecularize any life – if a disruption occurred in the charge between molecules in living beings, their existence as solid creatures would cease as they melted into puddles of component atoms."

Picard did not like the sound of that one bit. For Q to be worried about the power of a weapon, it must mean that its potential destructiveness is very great indeed, Picard thought.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard said, "I must have the coordinates of the vessel you are trapped on before I can even consider a rescue mission."

Q touched the computer on Picard's desk and stated, "There, I have placed the directions for the most direct course into your computer. Hurry, Jean-Luc, I don't know how much longer they will stay at these coordinates."

Q's astral self started to fade as he said, "Thank you, Jean-Luc! I wish you and your crew good luck in your rescue efforts – you'll need all the luck you can get," then Q was gone. Picard realized that if Q was able to reveal himself with no more solidity than his astral form, the aliens who captured him were siphoning off most of his energy. There was no time to lose, Picard thought. Captain Jean-Luc Picard transferred the directions from his computer into a computer padd and exited his ready room. He handed the padd to Ensign Wesley Crusher and declared, "Mr. Crusher, plot this course into the navigational computer and engage at Warp 9."

"Yes, Sir," Wesley Crusher said as his fingers deftly entered the information into the console before him, "Course laid in, Captain."

"Engage," Picard said, as he headed for the command chair; Data relinquished the chair to his captain and went to stand at one of the science stations behind Worf.

William Riker had a quizzical look on his face as he entered the bridge, "What just happened? Did I miss anything?"

Picard sat down and waited for Riker to sit in the empty chair next to him. Then he said, "I take it that Geordi is okay?" Riker nodded and Picard continued speaking, "Q paid a visit. He wasn't quite himself – apparently he gotten himself into a bit of a jam. And unfortunately there could be dire consequences if he isn't rescued."

Counselor Troi spoke up, " So what are we going to do when we get to the coordinates Q gave us?"

"Hope that the alien ship is still there and that the weapon is not operational yet."

"What weapon?" Riker asked, feeling a little out of the loop.

"Q's power is being drained from him," Picard responded, "The siphoned energy apparently is to be utilized to power a weapon that could cause the disintegration of any biological beings within an unknown range."

The bridge crew was silent as that information sunk in. No one said anything for several minutes. Then Data spoke up, "I take it that we know nothing about the aliens that have captured Q?"

"Unfortunately, we don't, Data, but any race that could create a weapon that could render a Q unconscious must be considered extremely dangerous," Picard replied.

The Enterprise continued along at Warp Nine until Geordi LaForge called up to the Bridge from Engineering, "Captain, LaForge here in Engineering - we can't keep going at Warp Nine for very much longer. Our warp core can't take this kind of stress for such an extended period. We'll have to slow down . . . I recom mend you bring our speed down to Warp Six."

Captain Picard sighed and replied, "We need to get where we're going as quickly as possible, Geordi. Do we have to continue at Warp Six?"

"Yes, Sir," Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge stated, "I know these engines and we have to give them a bit of a rest. Sorry, but that's what has to be done."

"Understood, Mr. LaForge," Picard said, then he ordered Wesley Crusher to reduce speed to Warp Six.

"Data, how long will it take us to reach the coordinates at Warp Six?" William Riker asked.

"It will take approximately 5 hours, 26 minutes, and 52 seconds, give or take 5 minutes, Captain," Data replied in his analytical, ever precise way.

"Damn," Riker exclaimed, "If only there was a quicker way to get there!"

Captain Jean-Luc Picard felt for his First Officer; he knew Riker to be a man of action who didn't like to sit around helpless when lives were at stake.

Suddenly, a glowing brightness began to coalesce into a solid form in front of the forward viewscreen. It gradually became a humanoid-shaped being composed of scintillating energies.

"Yes, it is very important that you stop the Cylex before they have a chance to destroy any living planets," the being stated gravely.

"I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise-D, Picard replied, "and who or what might you be?"

"We are V'ger," the entity replied, "and we can help you to get to where you must go."

"V'ger?" Picard asked the being with the unusual name, "What is your part in this situation?"

Data spoke up, "Captain, if I am correct then this is the entity that resulted from the joining of Lt. Commander Decker and the V'ger probe. I believe that V'ger could greatly help us with our rescue attempt."

"Counselor Troi," Picard asked the half-Betazoid officer to his left, "what kind of impressions are you picking up?"

"Captain, I can't get any real sense of emotion from V'ger. But I do not think that this being is trying to deceive us in any way," Troi said.

William Riker asked, "V'ger, who are these Cylex that you speak of?"

"They are the beings that have captured the entity you call Q," V'ger answered, "They are from an alternate universe – they were able to cross into this one utilizing a dark mater nebula as a gateway. Fortunately for us, they could only send one ship through successfully."

This time it was Wesley Crusher who spoke up, "So how did you know about what was going on?"

"We have been observing the Cylex since they arrived in our universe," the being calling itself V'ger stated, "The Cylex are a humanoid, serpentine race. They are highly intelligent, yet they are cruel beings with no regard for other species, and that is why they are so dangerous."

Picard asked, "Was it you who teleported the shuttlepod onboard the Enterprise?"

"Yes, and if you will allow us to, we will transport your entire ship to the coordinates that you seek," V'ger said.

"Yes, the threat of extinction that faces the living beings on planets near the Cylex ship is very high," Picard replied, "We must rescue Q and stop the weapon's use."

"We thought that you would say that," V'ger said as the energies that made up its body began to brighten. "You remind us of a certain other Starfleet Captain."

The Enterprise winked out of existence and then winked back into being in a different region of space. Picard realized that he had been holding his breath and he released it.

"Mister Worf, scan for the Cylex vessel," Picard ordered, "It must be somewhere nearby."

"What will we do when we find it?" Riker asked.

"V'ger will weaken their shields to allow a rescue team to beam onto their vessel," V'ger answered, "Their shields are very powerful, so we will only be able to disrupt a small portion for a short time."

Captain Jean-Luc Picard nodded and said, "Miles O'Brien is the best Transporter Chief in Starfleet . . . he'll handle the transport."

"Captain, I am detecting the ion trail of a large ship," Data declared.

"Bring us in closer, Mr. Crusher, but not too close – we don't want to alert them to our presence just yet," Picard ordered, as he saw a large glowing crescent-shaped ship appear on the forward viewscreen.

"Worf, Data, you're with me," Riker stated, as he got up and headed for the turbolift. Those two officers followed him.

"Be careful, Will," Picard said, "you don't know what you'll find over there."

"You know me, Sir, I'm always careful," Riker replied as the turbolift doors slid closed, sending them on their way through the Enterprise. Picard frowned and did not feel any less worried.

"V'ger will open a passage through the shields as close to the location of Q as we can," V'ger stated.

"Mr. O'Brien, this is the Captain . . . is Commander Riker and his boarding party ready to beam over to the Cylex vessel?"

"Yes, Sir," O'Brien replied in his usual professional manner, "I read a weakening in the Cylex shield grid and I am transporting them – now."

"All we can do now is wait," V'ger said, "With any luck, they will be able to free Q before the Cylex can fire their weapon."

Captain Picard asked in alarm, "Their weapon system is active?"

"I sense that it is completed, but not yet activated," the entity replied.

"Will," Picard said over a communications channel, "this is Captain Picard. You must complete your rescue as soon as possible, the weapon is complete, but inactive right now. Q must be freed from the energy siphoning device before the Cylex power up the weapon and fire it."

"Understood," Riker said after tapping the comm badge on his shirt, "We have arrived safely and are proceeding with caution. Riker out."

Riker, Data, and Worf walked quietly through the darkened hallways of the enemy ship. The heat was almost oppressive. Data scanned for life signs with a tricorder and directed them as they moved stealthily forward.

"The door we seek is that double door up ahead on the right," Data said, checking the information displayed on the tricorder's small screen.

"Are you sure?" Worf asked.

"Positive," was Data's reply.

Riker nodded and stated, "All right then, we'll go in, get Q out of that contraption he's locked into, and beam off before the Cylex find out anyone was here."

They moved down the hallway, their phasers drawn and at ready. The twin doors slid open at their approach and they saw Q strapped into a chair that glowed as energy was siphoned away from Q's body. Q's face was contorted in agony. There was a Cylex in the room, too. It pressed an alarm button before Worf could stun him with a phaser blast. A loud klaxon sounded throughout the ship as Data examined the machinery.

"Damn," Riker swore, "So much for quick and quiet."

"Worf, Commander Riker, my dear Data, you don't know how good it is to see you!" Q said thankfully.

"We're here to rescue you, Q. Do you have any ideas on how to get you out of that damn thing?" Riker asked, pointing to the siphoning chair Q was ensconced in.

"I don't know how the damn machinery works!" Q replied, "I woke up and here I was."

Data was dismantling a control panel on the machinery and said, " I think I know how to disrupt the locks on the chair."

"Well, hurry up and do it! I want out of this damned place," Q cried out impatiently.

Data fiddled with the wiring and then stated, " That should do it . . ."

The cuffs that strapped Q to the chair had indeed unlocked, but he was still secured to the siphoning chair.

Worf growled in frustration and gripped the cuffs and pulled mightily at them – the material tore away and Q was free.

"All right, let's get out of here!" Riker exclaimed, tapping his comm badge, "Four to beam out, Mr. O'Brien."

"Sorry, Sir," came back the response, "You'll have to wait until V'ger weakens the shields again."

Suddenly, the doors slid open and three Cylex rushed into the room. Armed with vicious-looking daggers, they attacked Riker and the others. Worf growled a Klingon invective and lunged for the Cylex nearest him, striking out with a mighty punch.

Riker and Data likewise engaged in hand-to-hand combat with their opponents. Riker was on the losing end of his fight and was surprised when Q appeared at his side and viciously lashed out at that Cylex, sending it crashing noisily over the siphoning chair.

"I've wanted to do that for the last four days," Q said, smiling victoriously.

The other scuffles were soon ended and when Riker tapped his comm badge next, he heard O'Brien say, "Ready to beam you out . . . stand by."

The four took a step away from the fallen Cylex and left the room in the transporter beam.

On the bridge of the Enterprise-D, Picard had heard from O'Brien that the transport back had been successful.

"So, V'ger," Picard said, "What should we do about the Cylex Super-Weapon?"

V'ger glowed a little brighter and stated, "Their weapon is useless now. But Q and I will have to cast their ship back to their universe through the dark mater nebula to make sure they can cause no more trouble here. Fortunately, we are right near the one they used to enter our universe."

Suddenly, the ship shook as the Cylex vessel launched an attack upon the Enterprise-D.

"Shields up, Mister Crusher," Picard ordered.

"Wesley replied, "Shields at maximum, aye."

The turbolift arrived at the bridge and deposited Q, Riker, Worf and Data. They entered the bridge and Q went over to the standing Picard.

"Thank you, thank you, my dear Picard," said Q with feeling, "I never thought I'd get out of that damned siphoning chair. I owe you my life."

"Later, Q, this is not the time," Picard said impatiently, then he turned to Worf, who had returned to his weapons station, "I want a full spread of photon torpedoes . . . target only their weapons system."

Worf said, "Aye, Sir," and soon the Enterprise-D was launching a counterattack. Most of the torpedoes were deflected by the Cylex shield grid but as they weakened, the next shots got through and destroyed the enemy's weapons system.

"Open a channel to the Cylex," Picard ordered.

A communications link was established and Picard declared, "This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterprise. We will spare your vessel and send you back to your universe."

"We will never return to our own universe," a voice hissed, "We would rather die!"

Worf reported, "The fools have put their drive system on overload."

"Mr. Crusher, evasive maneuvers . . . get us away from that ship!" Picard ordered.

The Enterprise-D veered away and was a safe distance away by the time the Cylex vessel exploded. Captain Jean-Luc Picard stared at the forward viewscreen, horrified, not understanding why the Cylex had destroyed themselves.

"It is done," V'ger stated simply, "The threat of extinction is over."

"Why did they do that?" Picard finally managed to ask.

"They probably did not want to face the consequences of failure," V'ger responded sagely.

"So who's your glowing friend?" Q asked Jean-Luc Picard, the usual haughtiness back in his voice.

"V'ger here helped us to rescue you," Picard answered him curtly.

Q uttered, "Humph, he not so impressive," and vanished in a huff.

Picard had returned the Althanian shuttlepod to the gracious people of Althane V. He was pleased to know that the Althanians had recycled the damaged Starfleet shuttlecraft into the makings for a marvelous garden labyrinth.

Picard now sat back in his command chair and enjoyed the tactile sensation of the Enterprise-D going to warp speed. They said that no sensation could be humanly detected while going from a standard orbit to any warp speed, but Picard could always feel the slight change in vibration beneath his feet.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard was quite pleased with himself and his crew – he had reestablished contact with V'ger for the United Federation of Planets and had successfully defeated the threat of extinction that had been posed by the Cylex weapon.

I know I have not seen the last of Q, but at least we know now that he is not as all-powerful as we once believed, Picard thought to himself.

The Enterprise-D had new orders to map and take energy readings of the quasars in the M.82 Galaxy. These ‘quasi-stellar' objects were quite an enigma – it seemed that their energy output as radio-emitting stars was much greater than their size suggested. Then they were to pick up a group of scientists from Starbase NC-17 and assist them in recording images of the double star pair Mizar and Alcor, other known as Zeta Ursae Majoris. Picard smiled at the thought of tackling these new cosmic conundrums and called out, "Mr. Crusher, plot a course for the M.82 Galaxy at Warp Four point Five. We have a new assignment."

Ensign Wesley Crusher acknowledged the order and smiled to himself as he realized that Captain Jean-Luc Picard sounded like a little boy about to ride a new bike. Wesley also felt that same excitement crackling through his own brain.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard leaned forward in his command chair, smiled and said "Engage," then silently willed his ship to go even faster through the void of outer space.

Finis.