14-6

Posted on Jul 18, 2014 @ 12:31pm by Lieutenant JG Kyle Calhoun
Edited on on Jul 18, 2014 @ 2:04pm

Mission: USS Pendragon
Location: USS PENDRAGON

“14-6”

Location: USS Pendragon
Stardate: 21.40701
Scene: CEO Office
====

Mav looked around at the orderly office. It was layed out the same as any standard Department Head office on a starship would be, but here and there there were little trinkets that obviously meant something to the owner. Half the things laying about he had no idea what they were, let alone what they would represent, but there were other things he could see. He took a long look at the photographs. Some had aliens in them that he never imagined. A few were Kyle and JT in various activities through the years. There was one with Kyle and another young man in science blue dancing at a party. A Picture of JT and some humanoid girl at the same party, and many more.

“A lot of memories on that wall. Some good, some not so good.” A voice from behind said while Mav was looking at a really old picture of a teenage Kyle and Tyler, his first love.

“You’ve been through a lot. Seen so many strange things.”

“Like any explorer. I’m sure the noted officers of history had all their own little collections.”

“Yes, but most of yours are pictures. You can see a good portion of your life on that wall.”

“It’s good to keep oneself grounded when alone.” Old Kyle replied. His voice was soft, with a hint of sadness in it.

“Who is this young man that you were dancing with?”

“That is Lieutenant Jason Marx. It was taken at a diplomatic summit the Pendragon hosted about 3 years after we were lost. Two 23rd century level societies locked in a bitter dispute that we negotiated a peaceful resolution to.”

“He is wearing science blue”

“Yes, normally a scientist would wear that division color.”

“You are still a smart ass.”

“Ask Peter, it’s gotten worse.”

Mav continued to look at the wall of memories, and came to a display case with a combadge, several medals the rank insignia of a Lieutenant Commander, and two wedding rings inside it. “What’s this.”

“That’s Jason’s combadge. He perished during an excursion on some god forsaken planet, while we were trying to secure fresh Dilithium. Peter promoted him at his funeral to Lieutenant Commander.”

“You were married to him.”

“Yes. For 4 years.”

Mav had trouble equating the kid he knew being married, and losing that spouse. All while he had nobody to turn to. “Where is JT? The pictures of him stop” He was afraid of the answer he would get. Had there been yet another death?”

“JT married that woman he is dancing with in that picture. About 13 years ago, we were crossing a very empty section of space. Think of the void between galactic spirals. We met up with a convoy of refugees going to a new home. We joined their convoy, providing defense to the lightly armed colony ships. We arrived after 2 years of limping along at warp 6, and helped them set up their colony. JT and T’resda Married, and he stayed behind with his pregnant wife. We stayed in contact as long as we were within range of the colony’s transmitters. He had a little girl and was completely enamored with being a father.”

Mav smiled slightly at the happy memory. “I see what you mean about memories both good and bad.”

====
2 hours later
====

Mav was looking at the heavily modified warp core of the Pendragon. Over the last hour he had heard more about the theories and development of technology than in the last 10 years of his career. Several times he got lost as Kyle talked above his head but he did catch something that was intriguing. Kyle was mentioning that during the convoy duty, they had run low on fuel, because between the spirals there was little anti-matter to resupply with. “So you were down to using the antimatter from your shuttles to get you by, and you just dreamed this up one day?”

“Jason actually noticed that there as a large abundance of Dark Matter out that far. He had started researching it as a fuel source because it to use terms you will understand ‘burns hotter’ than standard matter. The captain and my team converted our matter pods over to dark matter, and it stretched our antimatter supply out a year. Fourty percent higher efficiency over standard configurations. And it made our nacelles have a neat black light effect. Freaks people out now and then, makes the ship look sinister.

“Mister Calhoun. A word please.” They looked up from the core specs to see Peter standing near the turbolift.

Kyle walked over to his senior officer, and could tell the man wasn’t pleased. “Would you mind telling me why you felt it prudent to give Maverick of all people access to technology from the future?”

“Because it doesn’t matter one way or another?”

“Explain mister.”

“Either we change the timeline and everything is moot. Or we don’t change the timeline, in which case he will need all the help he can get. He more than most knows not to divulge anything he learns here. He’s been through this before, and it got him stranded. Besides Pete, its bret. If its not food, have boobs, or go boom, he doesn’t retain it.”

“I heard that you shit.”

Kyle shrugged. “You know its true. Now be quiet, smart people are talking here.” Kyle turned back to Peter “You know his ship would never reach the Armstrong in time. We are going to have to do something to allow that to happen.”

“We are equipping his ship with the coil we picked up from 1 of 3. His ship couldn’t handle the stress of a dark matter drive.”

“Agreed.”

“Then as you were.” Peter followed Kyle back to Mav. “Bret, I hate to cut your reunion short, but I need you somewhere. I would send Jax but he is needed elsewhere, to locate some kidnapped children and deal with his brother.”

“What do you need Pete? We’ve been friends for years so lay it on me”

“I need you to go to Nimbus-3 and aid the USS Armstrong. Its outmanned and outgunned, and her survival is pivotal to the future unfolding in a way we desire. Not to mention some of my former officers are on that ship.”

“It would take months for the Acreman to get back there from here. Remember she is old and no transwarp.”

“We are installing a Borg coil on it. It will be enough to get you out there within the needed time. Run silent when you arrive, we don’t want your presence felt yet. Not until necessary.”

“I will go as soon as you give the all clear.” He looked at Kyle

“No, my job is here. Things will get hot in a while and my engines need me. Be careful though.”

====
12 Hours later
====

“Maverick to Pendragon, We’re setting course for Nimbus, good luck Pete.”

[[And to you. I wish I had some witty thing to say to send you off but I’m too old for all that.]]

“You and me both.” He cut the connection and turned to his helm officer. “Power up the coil, and lets go.”

====
Outside
====

The twin nacelled ship spun on axis, and headed out of system, her nacelles lit up bright green before launching the ship into transwarp as soon as she left the E-4 Defense perimeter.

====
Lieutenant JG Kyle Calhoun
Chief Engineer
USS Pendragon
E: swiften@yahoo.com

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"ICH leidest weil Ich bin besser"