Maiden Voyage

Fourteen

"Captain's Log, Stardate : The mission to Planet M-114 has been completed. The USS Corvus arrived two hours ago. After returning the life-form known as the Vaxxar to the wilds, an unexpected waveform engulfed the planet, converting all foreign materials brought from earth by the colonists to conform to the planet's environment. This eliminated any potential alien contamination to the natural balance of M-114, also restoring the ground instability. The neurological anomalies being experienced by the colonists were eliminated. Governor Cyril Vessey is in custody. He was transferred from the Enterprise to the Corvus where he was under house arrest awaiting transfer to Starbase Three. His co-conspirators, who were complicit in his actions, are also under investigation by the team from the Corvus. Diplomatic relations have begun on M-114 to establish a new governing structure. Other details of sensitive nature concerning this mission have been turned over in a more detailed report directly to Starfleet Command. Enterprise is now en route to Andoria to complete the second of the temporary duty assignments. Pike, Commanding Enterprise."

Number One stood beside Pike's command chair. He leaned forward for one last look at M-114 before they broke orbit. The planet currently radiated a luminosity that it had not previously shown.

"Ironic, isn't it?" he asked, thinking out loud.

"Sir?"

"All that potential and intellect. They tried to create a paradise by isolating themselves, trading off their children for technology with an alien species with unclear intent. If they had just reached a balance with the natural environment, what riches in discoveries they would have made."

"Too often history repeats the trend of shortcuts, captain," she said.

"Unfortunately, Number One. Unfortunately." He waited momentarily, thinking about the events they had just experienced before giving the last command. "Let's get moving."

She took her place at the helm. Captain Pike addressed the bridge crew with his departure orders.

"Mr. Adena, inform the Corvus we are breaking orbit. Lieutenant Tyler lay in a course for Andoria. Full impulse until we break orbit, then time warp factor of seven."

"Breaking orbit, captain," Tyler said.

The Enterprise maneuvered out of M-114's orbit until only a star field occupied the main viewscreen. Without warning, the red alert klaxon sounded.

"Captain, ionizing radiation burst to the port side, seventy meters." Spock spun around in his chair, sounding off.

"Hard to starboard! Raise shields!"

The Enterprise tilted right, forcing the members of the bridge to lean sharply.

A large fissure in the void of space seared the dark canvas holding the star field. Through it, a ship emerged slowly. Twice the size of the USS Enterprise, the light surrounding the void appeared like a ring of fire. Once cleared, a bolt of energy purged from the stern of the vessel, closing the void. Silently, a bank of panels deployed from both the port and starboard beams. They expanded into a fan-like configuration between two propulsion units on each side of the ship. Locking into place bridging the four units, each glowed with energy from the matter intake along the sides through intermix cylinders. Upon securing the connection, the alien vessel set off, ignoring the Enterprise.

Pike turned to his science officer. "Spock?"

"Ray shielding holding, captain, but at only eight percent. The sudden ionizing radiation burst nearly overloaded the system. Deflector shields also down to thirty-five percent. Scanning energy signature." Leaning forward, looking into his station viewer, he awaited the results. "Radiant energy, emanating electromagnetic waves composed of photon particles." He concluded, "The gateway has closed, no energy signature remaining."