Star Trek: Eleventh Fleet

Episode 3: Chapter 1: Contact

Kal returned to the command center and watched as the Challenger made her way through the large spacedock doors. Commander Pestridge was in charge, but Scotty was doing most of the orders from under a computer station.

"No, lass, I need ya to activate those controls." He did something that created a lot of flashing lights and a few sparks.

"Are you all right, sir?" the girl at the comm station asked.

"Aye, just keep her hot. Now, Mr. Pestridge, turn on the transporter targeting system, nice an slow."

"Got it." Ben nodded to another ensign who worked her controls.

"Are ya gett'n a signal yet?"

Ben leaned over near the Bolian at the communications station. Suddenly a voice came through, "This is the Stargazer."

"Now we have it!" Scotty pulled himself out from under the console. He used Kal's hand to get to his feet. "It's not pretty, but it'll get ya short-range communications."

"What's going on?" Kal asked.

Ben answered, "The anomaly grew again and cut off short-range comm traffic. We couldn't even talk to the planet. But, Scotty fixed this."

"How? Did I hear you say transporters?"

"Aye, I jury-rigged the transporter targeting system into the comm system. An, this only worked since you have an older transporter system on this station. But, that's good."

Kal finally understood, "Type five transporter systems use a compressed wavelength targeting system. It doesn't depend on any subspace technology."

"Like talk'n over an old radio, but with better signal."

"Very good. Nice initiative. Now, I need to get some people brought back up from the surface. Contact..."

"Sir, The Stargazer is on the line." The Bolian stated.

"Put her through." Kal stopped.

Commander Nurnberg came through, "Station, the Challenger is returning to the dock. I know she is trying to signal, but they don't know to use this makeshift system. Open the doors."

"Thank you." Kal answered, "Open docking doors at once."

The ensign at controls activated the doors.

"Why do you suppose they're coming back?" Ben asked.

"I don't know. Nothing seems to work right anymore."

"I have the surface, Captain." The Bolian announced.

"Good. Tell them to send up Sakura and the Cardassians who are down there. Additionally, relay to the others that communications are limited and they need to inform us if they want to return now."

"Understood."

Kal looked at Scotty. "Get your cadets out there and make sure all the ships have their communications working with this system. I don't want anyone unconnected right now."

"Aye, Captain."

"Ben, you have operations." Kal ran off to meet his mother, painfully curious about what had just happened.

Admiral Henderson and Commander Shepard were waiting for Kal at the airlock.

"What's going on?" were his first words.

Bonita shook her head, "We couldn't go to warp, the subspace interference is too great."

Brian added, "It would take us weeks to get out of the system at impulse."