Star Trek: From The Dust (The Emden Adventures)

Prologue

The last person that anyone had expected to captain a starship was Charles Thomas. Sure he was intelligent, hardworking and physically tough ... after all he is a Texas boy, but he never once showed any initiative. While at Starfleet Academy he had received praise from students and instructors alike, they all said the same thing. "This kid has it." Nobody could quite describe what that 'it' was, but everyone felt it. Yet after graduating with honors in 2271, he abruptly left Starfleet and went back home to work on the family ranch. His Starfleet Engineering Degree now being used to repair outdated agricultural machinery.

Two years later he rejoined Starfleet under the request of his dying mother and was sent to Starfleet Academy (Earth) for training. For the next five years he held the rank of Lt. Navigator on the USS Revere and USS Masao COE ship. In 2281 Charles was assigned to the USS Excelsior as Lt. Engineering Officer and by 2288 he was promoted to Chief Engineer aboard the USS Korlev. His prospects were again looking bright. That is until Charles abruptly left the Korlev to work as an Instructor at Starfleet Academy. A far less glorious position. It seems as if Charles Thomas was hell-bent on self-sabotage, and he was fine with that. He was again able to blend in and go about his business without any fan fair.

One day, however, everything changed. After delivering a lengthy lecture about the Talin System, he was approached by Admiral Tom Galloway....

2292 Earth Starfleet Academy

"Fantastic lecture Mr. Thomas. See you never lost your incredible grasp of all things droll" Galloway said with a smirk. He was a tall, slender man with a shock of white hair. Charles recognized him instantly even though the last time he saw Galloway was when he served as a guest instructor back in his Academy days.

He shuffled his notes from the podium and took a step down from the stage area. "Sir. May I just ... damn you got old. At least you look good in an Admirals uniform." The two men shook hands warmly.

"So, Admiral, what brings you back to this dump of a place?"

"Well Mr. Thomas, I have a proposition for you" Admiral Galloway said.

Charles looked around uncomfortably. "Sir, let me just say that I am very happy and comfortable at what I am doing here and...

"The Admiral cut him off. "Remember the day that I met with you at the Academy." Charles nodded reluctantly. "I told you that you were destined for bigger things. I have a sense for these things Charles. We all saw something in you, not just brains. It takes instincts a willingness to go off script, the guts to go against the status quo ... that certain 'something'. You had that Charles ... I still see a glimmer of it.

"Charles looked at the floor. He knew the Admiral was right, 100% right. But, he couldn't be that person ever again. "With all due respect. I am grateful for the confidence, but whatever the offer is. I'm going to have to decline."

"Without even know what the offer is?" Galloway chuckled.

"Yes, sir"

"Well in that case Mr. Thomas, let me be honest with you. This is not a request. I was just trying to put a calming spin on it" the Admiral put his hands on Charles shoulder. "This is an order. I have personally assigned you to the USS Emden ... as Captain."

Charles staggered a bit in shock. He could not comprehend what he was hearing. A captain? His mind began to race. He did not want this. He knew he could do it, in fact there was a time when he was young when he may have been ecstatic over this. But, not anymore, not ever. How could this happen?

"...you ship out tomorrow Mr. Thomas. I believe in you." With that, Admiral Galloway clapped Charles on the shoulder and walked away. Leaving Charles Thomas, the new Captain of the USS Emden, in stunned silence.

Two months later, the USS Emden was traveling the Beta Quadrant. Captain Thomas had been settling nicely into his posting. The crew had been acclimating well, he was pleased with all of them. An eclectic group of veterans and newbies, professionals and the unpredictable. Everything seemed to be going well, until one day someone from his past returns. Bringing with him all of the troubles from his past....