The Galactic Empire Chronicles: The Arrival
By Nathaniel Miller – Copyright 1991 ©

Captain's Log: Stardate 3423.4 U.S.S. Magellanic Clouds on training mission to Alfa II Galaxy. Sector 920 at coordinates 34, 12, and 78. All systems are normal and functioning.

Commander Ihsss T'Larra, in her familiar place at the Communications console, panned a speculative glance to each station at the trainee crew who staffed the bridge of the U.S.S. Magellanic Clouds. The trainee crew mixed one at each station, beside an experienced crewmember, operating the bridge of this starship, doing the job assigned to them for this routine training mission. It is a good crew and they have done well during this mere training cruise. They have performed excellently, their handling of the ship, and the routine operations aboard her during this assignment. The most able of them is a young Lieutenant, a human woman named Sibrina Rodriguez who now occupies the Captain's chair.

Ihsss T'Larra, the true captain of the Clouds had expected good things from her, that she is quite young for her rank and yet she enhanced her natural aptitude with an inexhaustible capability for hard work. The Captain of the Clouds is the one who sponsored her in the academy and Sibrina in return had not disappointed the reptilian communications officer by becoming the top of her class in the academy. She is a competent, young, fledgling officer who is on her first assignment to a Starship. Ihsss T'Larra, the real captain, a reptilian officer, took her position at the Communications console, training her daughter Hi'Mthsss T'Larra who is also apart of the cadet class here. Felonious Purrtz, a feline officer, and newer member of the crew, operated the science console. Like all of them, they are all refugees from many worlds, because of the Cybertron Empire who now enslaved their section of the universe until they had found their way to Earth.

Captain T'Larra listened to the cool narration of the captain's log as the young human narrated it, sitting in the command chair. Sibrina, the training cruise captain of the Clouds, completed the report and filed it. If the human woman was nervous-and Ihsss knew she would be- that the young woman concealed her feelings well for the situation here. She, as Ihsss knew it, has never commanded a starship before in real life, only in the simulation tests that tested the reaction of the crew to many scenarios. It was only natural for her to feel anxiety, drawing a post of such importance on a training assignment and yet on any other occasion if she were assigned to a starship, Sibrina would be at the Science console or the Navigation console. They are her strengths, positions that Sibrina qualified and are well versed.

“It is a good start to a prospecting young officer's career to be selected captain for training mission.” Thought the reptilian captain, and secretly hoped to see Lieutenant Rodriguez succeed in her career with Starfleet. “And a name worth remembering for the promotion lists too.” She thought and managed a nod in approval.

Around the bridge, sitting at each station, the many officers of the Magellanic Clouds, Ihsss' friends sit in their familiar positions on board the ship. Veloxa Bzzzarti and Thyrac Antilles, two insect-like beings called Veloxi sit at their familiar places at the Helm and Navigation stations on the bridge of the Magellanic Clouds. Felonious Caitlin, of a highly advanced feline race sits at his familiar position at the Science console and Voloxa Xerz, another insect person sit at the Engineering console on the bridge. (Usually found below as the Chief Engineer).

Captain T'Larra, however, for this mission, usually sitting in the command chair, operated the communications station with her daughter Hi'Mthsss T'Larra. Each of the experienced crew has a trainee under their command for this mission except Felonious, who sits monitoring their progress at his console and the crew itself now working on its eleventh year as being one of the finest crews in among the Star Cruiser community at Starfleet. They have been around a long time, seeing a lot of action in their wanderings in space before ending up on Earth with Starfleet. The ship and crew had wandered space for many years before, working as traders in far off galaxies and having to take up refuge with strangers in order to survive. Still they were inevitably always had been forced to leave the region of space when the Cybertron invaded the galaxy or region of space they operated in.

As for this crew, their backgrounds are simple, they are all refugees from their own worlds, having been outcast, exiled, or escaped the tyranny of the new cybernetic race called the Cybertron who invades the galaxy in a huge galactic war. Not so much for Ihsss and her daughter, however, whose home planet is in the middle of a racial civil war anyway. Ihsss and her daughter had been caught in the middle of it, one of six groups of her people, who consist of different racial colors of the species. She is, with her daughter, one of the groups who are unnecessarily persecuted and rounded up to be massacred in an ancient racial war going on for many centuries on her planet.

The young reptilian officer, herself, is quite a beautiful specimen for her people. She is an attractive reptilian woman, her figure long slender, with a graceful, muscular neck hinted with the typical white scales found for her people. Her skin color is a very light tan in color, where a-typically her people can range from dark green to a very deep brown. Her people, called Thyrnn are a reptilian race of people. Males of her species range from four to six feet in height. Females are much larger, ranging from five to eight feet in height. Her people are warlike, the females and the green group, the dominant figures among her people. However, her people are well known in the galaxy for their excellent abilities in Communications and skills in Diplomacy.

Ihsss later as they served in Starfleet had learned from a free trader that the Cybertron had invaded shortly after, as they did too many worlds but this invasion was short lived as not more than a month they were defeated and forced out by her own people. The young reptilian woman grinned, knowing of the fool’s errand started by the Cybertron, a mistake that would cost them in this universal war.

“They should have known better.” Ihsss managed to think and quietly laughed as she scanned the bridge at her friends.

Despite the backgrounds and her shipmates who enlisted to join her, Ihsss is very proud of her crew's accomplishments. She is proud of them ever since their start of their profitable adventures together and of her own personal accomplishments after her exile into space. Ihsss was proud of their enlistment in Starfleet and their becoming the best Star Cruiser crew in the Federation. Many times, she found herself wishing she could go home, and rub this in to her people showing what her group of people could do, and show the tremendous achievement accomplished that could be reached by all of her people.

“Like they care anyway, I doubt our accomplishments are even noticed by my people anyway.” She thought, “By any of the groups.”

Ihsss however did not know that her statement was not true, that her accomplishments in Starfleet had been being noticed by her people, by all the groups on her world. Each accomplishment had put a widening crack in the civil war that raged on her planet and the council on her planet had been watching their exploits closely. The last event, being named one of the finest Star Cruiser crews in the Federation reported by a free trader to the council had brought the civil war to a screeching halt and an unsettled peace had finally fallen over her world.

Among her crew too, the same sentiments were always there among them, and Ihsss knew others in her crew, their worlds now endured the same trials. Only a few she knew had been able to escape from the Cybertron tyranny at all.

“Like Veloxa, Veloxi and Thyrac.” She murmured who had she knew escaped from the outer colonies of their planets and had ended up on a mercenary planet.

However, like a few of her crew, they were not so fortunate and their worlds were just destroyed by this evil power. Ihsss grimaced as she shook her head again and her eyes fell upon the view screen and the bridge of their stolen Starship.

“Funny to think of that all now,” She mused, managing a quiet chuckle, “A strange turn in ten years total of wandering, from escape, exile and now a haven in Starfleet.”

The reptilian commander turned, scanning the bridge again, regarding her friends before swiveling the chair back toward her console.

“Leaving sector 332 and entering sector 333.” Veloxa exclaimed, “Transition mark.”

Everyone on the bridge turned to glance at the view screen, at the helmsman's announcement, quietly reacting to it.

Sibrina, who had been deep in thought, turned the chair quickly, facing the view screen from the blank bulkhead where she had been abstractly staring. Quickly recovering herself, she faced the view screen, glancing at the tactical display that was currently up on the view screen. A model of their ship, surrounded in a white compass swiveled on the axis around it.

The insect-like pilot had been late with the transition mark but it was not critical to their progress. Lieutenant Rodriguez allowed it to pass and only nodded once.

“Helm, slow to warp one,” She ordered quickly, “Navigator plot a parallel course to avoid entering the Cybertron Neutral Zone.”

Both of the Insectoid crew sitting at their positions responded simultaneously to the young officer, quickly punching in the necessary calculations into the consoles before them. Next to her trainee, Thyrac watched him carefully, letting him make his own mistakes and only correcting him as necessary as he entered the calculations.

On the view screen, the tactical view of the ship, surrounded by white three-dimensional compass spun on its axis slowly around the ship. The Cybertron Neutral Zone they approached was shown as a computerized circular grid in bright red. The model approached slowly to the area ahead and there was a beep as a blue tracer line streaked away from the ship to curve away from the area.

“Course plotted and lay in.” The trainee replied from the navigator's position, and even half turned to nod at human in the command chair.

“Helm, engage and maintain warp one.” She answered, glancing down at the two Insect-like officers at the helm and navigator station.

“Aye Ma'am,” Veloxa's trainee replied touching the controls and the ship shuddered, lurching forward into the stars of space.

It almost jumped forward in the star-filled background of space as it accelerated forward on a seemingly endless collision course with the stars that hurtled toward them. The ship banked sharply to the new course and the low throbbing hum of the engines could be heard as the ship continued its acceleration.

As low groan of the engines became louder, something inside the young lieutenant's body had caused adrenaline to be pumped into her bloodstream. She noticed her heartbeat, racing at a steady pace and the thumping of her heart sounding in her ears. The young woman probably considered that it was the incredible feeling of being here in the captain's chair, commanding a starship that had caused the surge. It had been an almost god-like feeling to stand on the bridge and command. Still, there was something missing here and she sensed it among the experienced crew. At her post, the reptilian Communications officer raised an eyebrow at uncomfortable feeling she sensed pass through the young Lieutenant.
The young Lieutenant quickly turned her attention to the view screen as the small ship continued to plow on its course set for the training mission. Even as everything was proceeding well, the young officer sensed something was going wrong. ‘That something was rotten in the state of Denmark' as the old twentieth century clichés went. She glanced again around the bridge and a frown crossed her face at a chill that passed through her bones. Suddenly, her eyes fell upon the console of the helm and navigation where a moment later, that the warning light flashed.

“Captain, deflectors have snapped on.” Thyrac's trainee exclaimed tensely.

“Well shit.” Ihsss muttered picking up the slang living on Earth, but her statement seemed to fit this moment exactly.

She turned to regard the science officer Felonious who had his furry head down over the sensor module and buried in the sensor module's viewer. A low murmur rounded the bridge and a worried glance passed from Thyrac to Veloxa. Even Sibrina had looked over at Felonious.

“What's shaking Fel?” Asked the young woman and Felonious responded to her jest with a toothy smile on his furry feline features.

“Sensors show two ships to port captain.” Felonious informed her, “They're warships, Cybertron Battle-Cruiser Class.”

Another pause, “Have they seen us yet?” Sibrina asked.

“Not yet Captain.” Felonious replied, putting his face back in the sensor scanner.

“Here we go again.” Veloxa whispered to Thyrac and she nodded.

“Red alert,” Sibrina prompted and touched the console. The klaxon began to wail noisily and the several back-up crews ran onto the bridge to fill the empty positions on the bridge.

“Shields up full.” She ordered, remembered the rules of Starfleet for keeping the peace. She gave in. “Return fire if we are fired upon.”

Stress and tension circulated the bridge, for the trainees mostly where this was their first taste of a combat situation. The rush of adrenaline surged through the young Lieutenant who sat in the captain's chair. Still it had been several seconds before she touched the silencer button located on the captain's chair control panel and replaced the deafening alarm with silence. The view screen flickered and the Battle Cruisers appeared on the screen.

“They are passing on our port side, aft section.” Felonious reported, as his face still was literally glued in sensor module. “Distance, thirteen thousand kilometers.”

Felonious shook his furry feline head, but stopped in mid sentence. “They have now. Here they come.”

“Visual.” Sibrina snapped in answer, the view screen flickered and Cybertron ships appeared there. “Evasive maneuvers.”

“Aye ma'am,” The pilot echoed, tapping many calculations in the console. “Coming left, to grid two, seven, three,” Veloxa shouted, but quickly subdued his voice as he continued. “Z minus positive five degrees,”

A warning sound buzzed from the console next to Felonious.

“Sensors show three more Cybertron Battle Cruisers to starboard, Captain.” Felonious declared, followed by the Star Cruiser lurching twice as two direct phaser hits struck the Cruiser's shields.

“Phaser hits on the port-side, aft section.” Kwai said, sitting at the weapons defense console. “Minimal damage,” The fight was on.

“Let them have it.” Sibrina shouted, and phaser bursts erupted from the Star-Cruiser's weapons.

“Direct hits,” Felonious said, “They have light damage, but otherwise little or no effect.” Two Battle Cruisers bore down on them from two directions.

“Tactical.” Sibrina shouted, and the image showed the ship and the enemy ships that closed in around them.

“That's a little closer than I like.” Muttered the young Lieutenant, and grimaced, “We're way over our heads.”

“Forward view,” She instructed again and immediately the view screen switched to a forward view. Two Cybertron Battle-Cruisers loomed in the background of stars.

A moment later, another phaser burst rocked the Star Cruiser and this time the dampers barely countered the lurch of the powerful strike.

“They are right on our tail and bearing down on the port and starboard side Captain.” Veloxa exclaimed and again two more phaser hits struck the Star Cruiser.

“There is damage, sections fourteen, fifteen and twenty-one.” Hi'Mthss reported, “Damage control reports minimal damage consisting of shorts and overloads.”

Each position found itself busy in combat operations and each trainee followed the directive of the experienced officers.

“Distance and bearing, helm Mr. Bzzzarti.” Sibrina ordered and stood up from the captain's chair, standing behind the navigator and helmsman.

“Maybe we can get a few pot-shots in too.”

Outside the ship, the small starship banked in a perfect arc toward the Battle Cruisers of the Cybertron. Inside the ship, a cool crew sits on the bridge waiting for battle, as all stations were manned and ready.

“Two thousand kilometers, bearing one three degrees.” Veloxa, the insect-like helmsman announced.

“They are closing extremely fast.” Thyrac added.

“Stand by all weapons.” She ordered. Another phaser hit on the shields made the cruiser again lurch.

“Launch mines now!” Ordered the young woman, and Veloxa's claw-like hands were a quick blur on the console.

“Mines away captain,” Kwai reported as their mines streaked away from the Star Cruiser. “Evade immediately, Z positive twenty degrees.”

Without warning, the Clouds streaked upward and managed to spin clear of the ships. Mines managed to strike the Cybertron and explosions appeared on both sides as they hit the Cybertron ship's hull. They lurched, the spark of internal explosions from the hull appeared, and debris floated away next to the ship.

“They are slowing captain; sensors indicate several hits in their Engineering sections.” Felonious reported, “And three visible direct hits on their bridges. They are slowing from their pursuit.” Moments later, all three exploded into a hell fireball of light and disappeared. Debris hit the Cloud's shields and yet no one cheered on the bridge.

“Steer to course zero, one three.” She ordered, “Get us the heck out of this fight.” Captain Rodriguez grasped the back of Veloxa's chair.

“Aye ma'am,” The pilot replied. The starship shuddered as it slowed down, banking quickly as it approached a Cybertron warship. The massive enemy ship had cut their escape route, opening up with a torpedo spread.

Felonious from his place heard the curse muttered by the young Lieutenant.

“Incoming.” Thyrac bellowed, “Hang on.” Their ship vibrated and shuddered.

“Damn it...!” Cursed the young Lieutenant, when the Cruiser lurched and all hell broke loose as multiple hits rocked the ship. The lights dimmed, followed by the sound of shearing metal around them. Felonious knew the sound all to well and the familiar hiss of space leaking in.

“Shields are collapsing captain.” A voice yelled over the rumbling sounds of the guns.

“Divert all power to shields.” Sibrina ordered, glancing over at Felonious who had casually reached over and hit a red button on his console. A moment, the whine of a generator powering up and a pure white energy appeared from the Star Cruiser's hull, absorbing the many torpedo hits from the enemy battle cruiser and erupted into a white-hot bolt that headed back, obliterating one more Cybertron Starship into nothingness. Felonious nodded to the young officer and flipped the switch.

“Engineering has diverted auxiliary power to shields and they are back up captain.” A voice quavered, “Only forty-five percent though. Dampeners have minor damage.”

Another phaser hit rocked the Star Cruiser's shields and this time several of the trainee crew was thrown from their seats by the hit; Including Veloxa who hit the desk with a dull thud.

`Thyrac jumped the rail to assist the damage control crews with the electrical fires and the sound of sheering metal sounded around them. Sibrina jumped to her feet and moved to the Helm console. She returned the fire and watched as several phaser bursts erupted from the Cloud's weapons to strike the enemy starship. A lethal beam of energy lanced out and connected each ship with the raw fury. Several hits pounded the hull of the Cybertron ship, more explosions appeared as if it sprouted mushrooms and it finally disappeared in a flash of light.

“We got him.” Sibrina shouted, “Sweet.” Veloxa sat up and climbed up from the floor to the navigation console. He cast a look at Sibrina who now sat at the helm console. He said nothing, and dabbed at the streaming white blood from the top of his head.

“”I got control.” Sibrina thought, her heart racing at the ship began to purge and spin uncontrollably in a flat spin. Her hands danced over the console and the ship straightened.

“I think its time to get the hell out of here.” She mused and touched the console. Veloxa turned to stare at her strangely. The ship lurched, evading the torpedoes that were launched by the Cybertron vessel. Sibrina's hands danced across the controls and the ship turned heading right for the enemy vessel.

“What the hell are you doing?” Veloxa shouted, “We're going to hit, brace for impact.” The view screen clicked to an aft view and Cybertron ships closed rapidly behind them. The view switched to a forward view to a huge Battle Cruiser Starship coming at them.

“Hang on!”

The Cruiser headed toward the enemy ship in front of them and followed closely by another enemy ship behind. Sibrina hit the controls and in space their ship made an impossible move, turning sharply into the old term a ‘flat spin' using the thrusters, to evade another burst of torpedoes from the front ship. It rotated nose-to-nose three hundred sixty degrees to head out at z-minus ten degrees into clear space.

Behind them, two Cybertron ships collided and two of them exploded in a large energy burst. The others tried to evade, ending up that two more was to be consumed in the burst.

“It is still four to one captain.” Felonious commented.

“Nice flying Lieutenant.” Veloxa murmured and then he noticed a ship de-cloak in front of them. Sibrina hit the console hard.

Their Cruiser swung wide and lurched just barely missing a torpedo spread aimed right at them. It wildly turned out of control and then sharply turned to miss another spread of torpedoes erupting from another Cybertron Battle-Cruiser on their port side. Sibrina increased to full impulse power.

“Damn it...!” She shouted and pounded on the helm console buttons, making the ship lurch hard and just barely evaded more torpedoes. An enemy ship stayed hot on their heels and turned with the cruiser.

“Incoming!” Ihsss shouted, gripping the arm of her chair as torpedoes were launched from the Cybertron ships.

“Damn it again!” She muttered and striking the console hard with her fist, the ship lurched again. Torpedoes streaked from all the remaining ships and all were all aimed at the Star Cruiser. The young Lieutenant touched the console again, her fingers dancing over its surface. A shudder and the ship lurched again, banking hard, then rolled vertically, allowing the torpedoes to streak past. It was a wild reckless move and threw the trainee crew from their seats again. Behind them, the smaller Cybertron ships tried to turn with the wild maneuvers and collided with the larger ships. In the cloud's view-screen, a large explosion of energy appeared behind them.

“That was too close.” Ihsss said, and sighed in relief. The large energy burst enveloped the third Cybertron Ship and it too was consumed by the blast. However, through the debris one ship was still hot on their tail.

“One is slowing to sub-light, apparently it took bad damage.” Felonious beamed, “Stabilize the shields.”

Voloxa's trainee turned, hitting a switch at the engineering section.

“Shields steady at fifty eight percent power now sir. They are recharging now.” A young ensign reported.

Sibrina nodded, vacating the pilot's seat and returned to the captain's chair. Veloxa took his proper place at the helm again.

“Hard over to port,” Ordered the young lieutenant and the ship lurched rolling suddenly before it straightened again.

“The enemy vessel is hurt and moving away Ma'am.” Felonious reported, clicking a button on his console.

“Come about to go after them?” Thyrac's trainee asked and Sibrina managed to shake her head. Behind her, the damage control crew had the fire under control and a minute later Thyrac too returned to her station.

“No, get us the hell out of here.” The young Lieutenant ordered, and had managed a nod to the navigator as she took her place at her station.

”Engaging course back along boundary and maintain warp point nine after we drop from warp.” Repeated the pilot and Sibrina noticed him quietly sigh in relief.

“Damage control reports containment of a fire in sections fifteen and sixteen, Corridor twelve.” Hi'Mthsss reported, listening to her headset and the reports coming in all over the ship.

“Commander T'Larra, notify Starfleet.” Sibrina said quickly, “Apprise them of our encounter of Cybertron Empire Ships, and our position.” Ihsss finally had a chance to look down and she noted that she gripped the chair tightly.

“Aye.” The reptilian communicator had replied nodding to her daughter who with quick precision tapped the many buttons on her console.

“There is jamming on all frequencies captain.” She said after a moment, “I can't get through.” Ihsss grimaced, knowing what was coming next.

“They have cut us off, so there are more ships coming.” She muttered and Sibrina realized it too.

“Engage cloaking device Thyrac.” She ordered and at the helm, the bug-like navigator hit the button on her console. Outside the ship shimmered as it disappeared under cloak leaving nothing but the silence of stars around them. Another shudder and the ship's impulse drive engaged.

Meanwhile, in his quarters, on Earth, Lieutenant Seth Aguilera, from the US Army of the past, awoke with a start, and with a cry of alarm sat straight up in bed in sickbay located at Headquarters. Seth had managed to wake up with a start, panning a quick gaze to the darkened room, at first disoriented and not recognizing his surroundings. He is too freaked out by the horrible dreams that he had during his many attempts to sleep, and still plagued by the nightmares of the time in stasis where he and his crew, for the better part of three hundred years, had been slumbering.

The dreams had been of the last thing he remembered before drifting off, an explosion, fire and smoke that swept through the chamber when a terrorist bomb had been set off. It had exploded, killing everyone in the area, as the fire swept through it with shrapnel that had been thrown from the chemicals. He remembered the people that had been shredded, the terrible gore from the safety of his chamber, flinching as the fire had hit the chambers, and a couple of shredded people had hit his chamber and slid off the Plexiglas hatch.

“Oh god what the heck is wrong with me.” He thought shaking his head in his hands as the nightmares faded. His gaze turned to the sterile environment that made up the hospital room, reminding himself that it had been a dream he was having, knowing fully well that it was no dream that they had awakened far into the future. The room he now occupied is a large room, and in it, two beds could comfortably be sat in them.

Equipment of all sorts lines the wall and several futuristic panels. Next to him, a small terminal flickered and the face of a nurse appeared there.

“Bad dreams again Lieutenant?” She asked, and he looked over.

“Yea...” He replied.

“Do you need something to help you sleep?” The nurse asked, and quickly he shook his head.

“I've had enough sleep.” Seth replied and the terminal flicked and became black. Slowly he blindly reached out for his robe that hung nearby on the hook and stood up to wrap it around him. His gaze then went to the huge bay window that overlooked the city and he moved to stand in front of it.

Here he gazed off at the sea of lights at a place he called home, a place called San Francisco and the Bay Area. As Seth stared at the lights, his gaze quickly found the visible landmarks of the town he knew like the back of his hand, and then to the dark water where he knew the Bay was. It is hard for him to see this place, especially after three hundred years and here along with his friends found each other in the future.

It has now been three hundred years since the volunteers were put in stasis and now were recovered from the project-forgotten centuries ago, where they had been guinea pigs for a new process that had been discovered. A process using a new technology that was developed by NASA and where people could be put in suspension as it was commonly portrayed in the movies 2001: A Space Odyssey, 2010: Odyssey two, and any other common Science Fiction Book of long past.

“And the funny thing,” Seth thought, “The damn thing worked.”

They had indeed survived in a time now that far exceeded the time they had been put in stasis where there was now warp travel, space travel and colonies into space. They had survived the process, another battle, another conflict raging on Earth, distracting everyone to the project, and they lay forgotten as they journeyed into time itself.

“A time that undoubtedly would amaze them as they caught up,” Seth thought, as he thought of seven people whom he had just buried, who would not be joining them here. He thought also to the five others that had met the same fate he had to live in a new century, and people, his friends who would never know the twenty-third century.

Seth stood in the futuristic city of San Francisco, as he had many days now, staring at the sights of the bustle of the city. It is night now, but when he had first seen it in the day, he had gasped openly. The city he knew had changed a lot than what he remembered of it and from his window had gazed right down into the city. Seth immediately had noted that it is much larger than it had been in the past. Not so much in size, built down the peninsula, but it built upward in large, futuristic skyscrapers. He also noted that the landmarks that he knew marking the city had changed, especially the Bay that had changed itself in these centuries, becoming a bit deeper in places, but thankfully now controlled by a huge power plant at the mouth, catching the currents as it is kept a maintained size. In addition to the Bay, Seth also noticed as he checked out the sights that the seven bridges, with exception to the Golden Gate no longer spanned the watery surface of the Bay. They had long since been dismantled and left far behind in its progress, no longer needed as Tram Service came available. Seth of course was in the middle of it all and he shook his head. Across the bay, he could see the lights of Oakland and the cities that were across the watery surface out there somewhere.

“A lot of changes,” He muttered and cast a look at the computer terminal nearby where for the last couple of weeks he had been catching up on technology and the future.

“Three hundred years, and feels so different,” Seth thought, “I wonder how the others are taking this? Also what does the future now hold for me and my friends?”

He shook his head, glancing at the terminal nearby, he recognized as what he read being called a food replication unit.

“Computer, coffee, black,” Ordered the young officer and quickly the computer obeyed, below the replicate hummed into life, quickly putting a mug of coffee on the platform. Seth grabbed it, taking it in his hands, letting it warm them and then sipped it carefully.

His first reaction was a grimace at the taste, but he needed stimulation and despite the bad coffee continued sipping it as he continued staring out of the window. Seth thought of his friends, by now who had awakened and were recovering like him in the sick bay here, and had no idea that they had made an incredible jump in time. Seth himself had no idea of the significance made by the jump by his team and the impact that would have among the science teams here in this time, still stunned and still perplexed how they survived in stasis so long.

Behind him, Seth had not been aware of two young women, his friends had entered behind him, the ones that he thought dead, reported lost when they were in stasis. The same people Seth had buried the funerals he had planned and attended. What had really happened had been a minor mix-up on the records and they had been swapped, two cadavers of this century who had been fighting against the Cybertron had been buried in their stead. Seth had been so busy staring out the window that he had not noticed their entry.

The two young women are both very beautiful, one of them a brown-haired person as the other one was a gorgeous blonde-haired person. The dark haired woman cleared her throat as they stood there, staring at the person who occupied this room, glancing a couple of times at her friend who stood next to her. There was a long silence for a moment before Seth had sensed them, whirling around to face them as he snapped to immediate attention, and held a rigid salute. The young man met the confused looks with question, staring at the long curly brown hair that draped down around her back and her brown eyes. His gaze moved to the other one, the same thing, with exception the second woman had blue eyes, blond hair and a voluptuous figure. Both were in their own rights beautiful, and he relaxed, composing himself quickly. He had remembered military decorum and had straightened, assuming they were the doctor and nurse on duty here tonight.

The young women, Denise “Watts” Watson, and Emily Montgomery, both of them Seth's friends and stasis members who like him had volunteered for stasis stood at the door. Seth of course did not recognize them at first, finally recognizing the hospital robes they wore around their fantastic figures. Both had smiled when they saw the salute, but it quickly faded into an uncomfortable silence. He finally realized they were just patients like him. There were smiles between the young women who had saw the old style salute.

“Uh, sorry for the intrusion,” Denise said, grimacing, “Wrong room.”

Denise paused, “Thanks for the old style salute, it made our day.” Both of the young women chuckled.

Seth managed a grin, “No problem.” He replied, “Happens to the best of us. I thought you were the CO of the hospital.”

However, as she turned and he found himself staring, sensing something familiar about these people.

“Please wait.” He said quietly and pausing, the young twentieth century woman turned. “Is there something I can help you with Ma'am. Do I know you?”

Denise shook her head, “I'm not sure you would.” She replied, in a strangely familiar twang and she glanced at the other young woman who managed to shake her head.

He muttered a curse and for a moment, he closed his eyes and the faces echoed there readily in his head. The young women had been standing there in confusion too and had turned to glance at each other several times, and then back to young man here. The same feelings too had washed over them too, something having been familiar about him. Both were unsure and Denise turned, squinting in the dark room. She muttered a curse.

“Computer, Lights…” She said sharply and the computer obeyed, the lights switching abruptly on. He grimaced at the brightness, as she did.

“Computer, half-lights…” They both said simultaneously and the lights dimmed to a low-level intensity. They both exchanged a smirk between them and then managed a burst of laughter.

After a moment, they became very quiet Denise peering at him, smiling.

Seth had already had his head shaved into a prison type crew cut and his dark features studied her. Denise's reaction had been one of swift acknowledgement when his face came back to her and she let out a gasp.

“Seth?” She asked, “Seth Aguilera?” She said, staring in wonder at his face. Emily had turned too, shaking her head, but not without stepping up to him first, to embrace him and lay a passionate kiss on his lips.

Emily embraced the officer. Seth had not been prepared as their lips touched, her kiss was sweet filled with promise and yet his eyes showed immediate surprise. He had not expected this at all and felt a slight flush creeping up on his face. Emily drew back after breaking the kiss and stared into his eyes.

“It is you.” She declared, and she held him.

Seth on the other hand, his mind is a whirl of questions, he was trying to place this person somewhere and something in his head had triggered a memory. All at once, her face suddenly seemed familiar and it was many other times, arguments and power struggles since their professional relationship built itself three hundred years ago in the city of San Francisco, a place known for romance. It is several moments before something in his memories confirmed and made him remember.

“Denise?” He ventured a name, “Denise Watson?” Denise on the other hand smiled and nodded to him in reply. He turned to stare at Emily.

“Emily!” He replied and he embraced her again. He immediately almost broke down as he met their expression of acknowledgement. He raised his hand to touch her face, pausing before the young officer touched her as if she were to burst like a soap bubble. When his hand felt her warm skin, he shuddered.

“Oh my god,” He breathed and embraced her back, returning the kiss just as a young nurse, the doctor on duty in this ward and a couple of officers from the Admiralty upstairs entered.

Behind them walked, Amy Panstangle, Melinda Morris, Manual Perry and Amanda Garcia the five remaining people who had survived this literal hell. They walked together, as usual talking business, the doctor in the lead, escorting the Admiralty officers to the ward. They walked in Seth's room unannounced, or had knocked, but Seth did not hear. Their gazes had fallen upon the very romantic scene that went on here and stared at the two officers. A smile broke out on the doctor's face and the young Admiralty officer glanced at the other, then to the doctor who smiled at first, but his grin faded when he realized who was here in the room.

Five minutes elapsed and an uncomfortable shuffle rippled through the group. Emily and Seth finally broke and she smiled at Lieutenant Aguilera

“I am so glad to see you.” She said, and they embraced.

“How can this be, they said you were dead...” He stammered, “I had to help bury you. I can't believe it.” She frowned at the notion.

“Well you better believe it.” A voice said and Seth turned to the doctor and the group.

“Ms. Watson. Ms. Montgomery. What the blazes are you doing out of bed?” The doctor said and rushed toward her. Seth, without thinking moved to step in front of her and deflected his arm. Emily of course was so in shock by the feeling of Seth in her arms that her mind was so overloaded. She let out a groan. Seth's head turned when he heard it and watched as if in slow motion her body began to swoon and fall to the deck in a faint. He moved like lightning and grabbed her, holding her unconscious form in his arms. Amy, Melinda, Manual and Amanda had clustered around the two when they saw them, amazed that they were here.

“Holy shit,” Seth muttered, and turned to the doctor. He pointed to the bed.

“Orderly!” Shouted the Doctor said and Seth placed her gently in the
Bed as a young man arrived.

“We had better move her back. Get a gurney.” Seth caught the doctor's gaze and slightly he shook his head. “She'll be okay Lieutenant.” He told the young officer and Seth took up her hand. His gaze met the young orderly.

“You... shit for brains, move my gear to her room... NOW,” Seth said, throwing his gear to the orderly. Seth glanced up the surprised doctor who had bet his gaze.

“She already has a room-mate, but we'll keep you informed of her condition,” The orderly replied and the young officer shook his head.

“Bullshit, I am not going to lose this young woman again or let anyone lose her. Not you or anyone.” Seth said with a low and soft tone. The orderly checked the doctor's gaze who nodded slightly.

“He has a point.” The doctor said, and considering the request by the officer, he nodded slightly.

“Very well sir.” He replied, as and he grabbed the robe and they moved her back to her room. Seth sat next to her as the Doctor worked over her. Her eyes fluttered and she stared up at the young Lieutenant Watson and Seth.

“Oh my god, I can't believe it.” She said, her eyes flowing with tears.

“Easy, Em...” He replied, kissing her hand. “I am not going anywhere. Is she going to be alright Doc?”

Standing next to her bed, the young Doctor looked up. “Yes, she'll be fine, just needs a bit of rest. Miss Montgomery, next time you should obey your good doctor's advice.” Grinning, the young officer managed a quiet chuckle, and she grinned. He peered over at Denise too. “That goes for you too.”

“Sorry doctor Phillips.” She replied. He smiled.

“Well anyway, please rest.” He told her, nodding quickly when she closed her eyes.

“It's okay. She's going to go to sleep for a while.” The doctor said, “Please.” He injected Emily with a, air hypo and turned, motioning Seth to sit on the bed.

The Doctor took his blood pressure and everything from the bed that displayed the readings. “I was told you are having trouble sleeping...”

Seth nodded and the doctor noted that in the small wafer thin board he carried. “Well that's understandable, you and the others being in stasis for so long. Otherwise how are you feeling today?” Lieutenant Aguilera shrugged.

“Now that I have seen Emily and Denise, I'm just fine, but still a little confused, a little lonely.” He said, “I look out there and it seems that I have lost a part of myself to that city out there for three hundred years. There is hope that you guys made a mistake and I did not bury another one of my team.” Phillips grinned at him. However, a voice interrupted sharply.

“Well, good news the doctor here says you will be out in a day.” Mitty said, as she entered the room and he stood fast.

“Attention on Deck!”

“What?” The Doctor said as he saw the others stand sharply at attention. The others followed suit as he saluted formally. The young Commander noted his immediate respect to military decorum, and waved casually.

“Superior officer in the room,” Seth replied sharply.

“At ease... At ease,” She said, shaking her head. “Great news we have something already in mind when you get out of here Lieutenant Aquilera. I have already discussed it with the Admiral and he wants to see you tomorrow afternoon.”

The young officer grinned, “Cool” he exclaimed and cast a look at Denise and then to the doctor beside her.

“Doc can she hear this?” The doctor shook his head.

“The assignment is a Special Forces assignment at Headquarters, and the Admiral feels you'd be perfect for it. We want you to report to Special Operations under Admiral Primetime... Tomorrow at sixteen hundred after you meet with Admiral Hammer.” A grin was broadly showing on the young Lieutenant's face.

“Great.” He replied, “At last to be useful again...” Here the young woman grinned. “Oh yea, how long will she be out?” He asked and Doctor Phillips turned.

“Not long... why?” The doctor nodded in immediate understanding.

“I wanted to say goodbye.” Seth said, “And let her know I will be back. I am wondering if she knows if the others made it or not...” The doctor understood.

“Ah.” He replied, nodding his head. “Well, you won't get that chance we are going to keep her sedated for at least twenty-four hours.”

Quickly the young Lieutenant glanced down at his chronometer on his wrist.

“Damn.” Seth said, “Please at least give her the message, I don't want her to worry.” Mitty nodded curtly,

“It's alright, she is in good hands. Doctor Phillips is the best Doctor we got at the Medical Department at Starfleet. Anyway that's all for now.” Commander McDonald said and Seth started to get up.

“Please stay seated.” She replied, “I have to get back upstairs to headquarters. All other details will be explained to you by Fleet Admiral Hammer and I wish you good luck Lieutenant.” She nodded and exited.

Seth of course sat there a moment, realizing that he was back in the military, had a mission and looked forward to it. However, he also realized that he could be killed to and he would never see Denise or Emily, his lost and now found lover from way back when their project had begun. Seth knew he had a lot to prepare for and wished he could not go, but duty was always in his blood. The young man had a new century that awaited all of them.

The others stood clustered around him and he shook their hands and returned the two young women’s embraces. He told them where they were and a brief stunned silence followed.

“I think its time to celebrate.” He told them and there was a smile as he brought out a bottle of cognac that was concealed in his canister among his gear. The young officer broke the seal, at the dismay of the medical personnel, but motioned to them as he poured.

“Oh come on…” He said, and he poured the sharp liquid in paper cups. The medical personnel took the cups.

He held up the paper cup, “A toast.”

“To old friends perished and we say goodbye.” He said, “And to new friends, we just met, may we all stand together as one.”

“Amen.” The group said together, and they all drank.

Back in space, however, at the same moment --- Aboard the Star Cruiser USS Magellanic Clouds:

Ihsss T'Larra now sat in the Command chair, her daughter now sat in her position, at the Communications station and Lieutenant Rodriguez sat next to the science console station. As Ihsss watched the stars hurtle toward them, they entered the sector where the tender awaited them. The young woman who had been the commander for this training cruise had moved to the science station where she sat with Felonious and Ihsss impatiently sat in the chair, turning it back and forth, as she scanned the bridge. She is a good commander on training voyages. She would take the trainees to a new level, letting them work uninterrupted despite several harrying events that had happened.

“Like a few hours ago.” Ihsss thought, glancing at her daughter. “Still they performed excellently and I am going to make a lot of recommendations.” She thought.

They had long secured from battle-stations, managing to escape the Cybertron ambush and the next wave that had been coming in on them. They had long since got out of jamming range and had warned Starfleet of the impending raids of Cybertron ships before invasion. Now her ship had been ordered home.

“Helm, slow to impulse and turn to course one-three five,” Ihsss ordered, “Felonious, where is the tender.” He put his furry head in the viewer module again.

“On the port-side captain,” He replied. She nodded. “Bring us in slow and easy helm, slow to impulse power for approach.” A low hum of the sensors echoed across the bridge.

“You're not going to like this skipper,” Felonious told her, switching the view screen. The image of a half-destroyed couple of ships appeared there.

“Shit.” Ihsss exclaimed, and Sibrina now was in her mind also saying the same thing but a better idiom and colorful word came to mind.

“Sound yellow alert and scan for any survivors.”

Ihsss turned her chair to the feline officer at the science console who up from the console and shook his head.

“There are no survivors captain, or any life signs in the hulk, there are a few bodies as of yet that float near it. The signature looks like that of a Cybertron attack.” A bleep on the console echoed over the speakers,

“All stop,” Ihsss ordered, “Nice and steady helm.” The helmsman tapped the controls and slowly the ship wallowed to a stop.

“Keep an eye out,” Ihsss warned, “The Cybertron may be out there.” A chill passed through her bones.

“Captain, a ship incoming,” Felonious reported, “on the starboard side. It just warped in.” Ihsss' resolve was immediate.

“Shields up, Red Alert!” she ordered, and the klaxon alarm blared on the speakers. Again, crews ran to their positions. “Two more ships to port.” Sibrina added.

“This is the Federation Destroyer Whirlwind, to unidentified ship. Halt and identify immediately.” The speakers said, crackling with static, and at his post, Felonious relaxed, grinning broadly.

“There ours,” He said and Ihsss relaxed too, turned her head, flashing a grin to the feline officer.

“Hi'Mthsss. Open hailing frequencies.” She said, turning her chair to face the communications console.

“Hailing frequencies open skipper.” Ihsss replied after her hands danced over the console.

“This is Federation Star Cruiser, Magellanic Clouds.” Ihsss replied, “Glad to see you could join us.” A grin passed between the helmsman and navigator. There was a brief pause before the view screen flickered and the picture of Captain March Williams sitting in the Command chair appeared there.

“Greetings Captain, Welcome back, we were worried and came in force when we got the mayday from the Rueben Saint James out here and their Destroyer escorts.” The voice continued, “We got the word that they were sent to meet you here, but it appears someone else had something else in mind.” He paused.

“What is your status Captain T'Larra?” The screen wavered for a moment with static but cleared.

“We're partially operational Captain.” Ihsss replied, “We have important information for Headquarters, an invasion report of a Cybertron force who have breeched sector 920 and 921. We need to be along side the tender for some minor repairs before we can get this relayed to Earth.”

The captain on the view screen, a middle-aged man frowned, turning away from the screen for a moment then turned back.

“Our task force is nearby, and a tender is standing by to help make your repairs. We will relay the message and send a ship to escort you back.” The captain said, “Steer a course zero nine zero and follow us,” March instructed.

Ihsss nodded gladly. “With thanks Captain.” He grinned nodding and the screen flickered returning to the field of stars. “Thyrac, plot parallel course,” She ordered, and Thyrac, now rapidly punching in equations looked up to nod. “Helm, execute and make for impulse, warp point three.” Ihsss ordered and Veloxa's claw-like hands danced over the console. The ships spun in place and slowly it limped along and on course, and headed for the task force that would escort them home.

To Be Continued: Episode 2