Phase

Posted on Dec 21, 2015 @ 4:25pm by Captain Peter Aspinall
Edited on on Dec 21, 2015 @ 4:25pm

Mission: Civil War

“Phase” (Contd - “Endgame”)

Location: Elandipole
Stardate: [2.15]1221.1955
Scene: Space


Since their aborted attempt to intercept the Demeter the Pendragon had limped to the rear of the fleet and the vessel most likely to be able to help them, the Stonehenge.

The Pendragon was phasing uncontrollably but when it came down to it phasing was a transition into another dimension whether the dimension either in space, in time or indeed both. The Pendragon had made use of the artefact on their journey through time from a point in space near to their current location so a potential phasing through space alone would cause them little issue; but if this phasing took them to the time they came from there could be a number of problems.

Time is not immutable as many believe, the very reason there was a department of temporal investigations gave truth to this, time could be damaged, but even with all the evidence numerous ships had encountered throughout the years, including in many time travel incidents of their own, it was not clear just how time travel worked.

There were as with everything unknown many theories, two of which held the most prominence.

There was the theory that time travel was full of paradoxes, that one wrong move could erase yourself from the timeline potentially causing all of time itself to rupture. In this theory the Pendragon crew should have found their memories altered as their actions changed the future, leading eventually to the potential paradox that they would never have returned to the past as the future was for want of a better word fine. The trouble with the theory of course being if the Pendragon didn’t return from a “fine” future then nothing would have happened to cause that fine future and the future with the neo-essential regime in charge would have happened thus causing the Pendragon to return to the past. The entire concept was essentially flawed but a mechanism within the timestream itself to correct these problems and prevent the cyclical argument from arising wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

If this particular theory was true then the Pendragon crew may expect, if they couldn't correct their phasing, to at best end up in a future that was of their own making although they could of course simply fade out of existence entirely.

The second theory that held sway when it came to time travel was the alternate worlds theory. In this particular theory when the Pendragon had travelled through time to an earlier point it had actually moved into a divergent time stream as well, a dimension ever so slightly out of sync with the one it had come from. If this theory prevailed then the consequences could be quite different for the Pendragon. The changes they had wrought in this particular time stream would exist, there would be little danger of that; but should this phasing return them to the point of diverge, to the very start of their time travel, then irrespective of the effect they had on events they would return to the same future they had left, and in all likelihood return right into the guns of the Essentialist fleet.

All told the risks were too great for the crew of the Pendragon to just let the phasing take its course and the closest practical knowledge anyone had was the dimension jumping capabilities of the D-drive. Peter’s own knowledge of the device was extensive but they had a great resource between the engineering crew of the Stonehenge and beyond that one of the designers of the D-drive itself had made his home in the engineering department of the Pendragon upon it’s launch years earlier.

Dr Olkar was old; he had been substantially older than the average member of the Pendragon crew when they had been thrown across space over twenty years ago and now in his later years his mind was easily distracted but still if they had any hope of saving the Pendragon the minds they needed were here.

The comm waves between the two ships were thick with wild theories as groups threw possibilities back and forth, all of those plans however changed when the enemy forces stood down; when the two fleets of Starfleet vessels united as one again.


Scene: Pendragon Bridge

Peter suppressed the surge of hope that threatened to make him think this was all over. “Helm, set a course for the Century; comms signal the Stonehenge to that effect. Let’s retrieve the artefact.”

Quiet cursing sounded periodically from around the bridge as people still found themselves periodically unable to interact with their controls.

A thud echoed from the rear of the bridge as someone feel through the back of their own chair.

This was a nighmare.

The Stonehenge sailed ahead of them, the fleet vessels surging out of the way of their escort as the Pendragon followed limping behind them.

“Get me the Century.”

As he was about to sit down he thought better of it and stood infront of his chair as the forward bulkhead fizzed in to life showing a familiar face.

“Admiral Marxx.”

{{Captain, are you ready to receive the artefact ?}}

“Yes Admiral, co-ordinates are being sent.”

The sensation of déjà-vu was strange although Peter supposed understandable; they may not have been in this exact situation before but it was very much a blast from the past.

Marxx glanced to one side, receiving a report from someone out of Peter’s field of vision.

“We are unable to transport to you; the phasing affect is blocking a clear signal.”

Peter wasn’t entirely sure what to do next, and his lack of immediate response made that evident.

{{Could we beam it in to space for you to retrieve?}}

Peter shook his head, “We would be even less able to transport; we are unable to transport anything out of phase with the Pendragon.”

{{How were you planning to take it from us ?}}

Again Peter paused for a moment; but it was hardly something he should be afraid to admit, Marxx himself would have been planning for just the same thing if their positions had been reversed.

“I’m afraid you won’t like it.”
The discussion brought in several engineers from each vessel but one thing was clear; Peter was not wrong Marxx did not like the idea.

{{Is there no other way?}}

Peter glanced at Kyle and up to the second half of the screen where the bridge of the Stonehenge was now displayed alongside the Century.

“Nothing we have come up with; it wont even work if you beam the artefact in to space; the distances need to be particularly precise.”

Marxx looked over at his conn officer, {{Move us away from the rest of the fleet, we don’t want to be close if anything goes wrong.}}

“Admiral, we could do this with another ship; we don’t have to put the Century at risk.”

{{As you said Captain; time is of the essence, let’s begin. We shall give you precise co-ordinates once the Century is at station keeping; Marxx out.}}

“Rharn, the Pendragon is ready when the Stonehenge is; fire the burst and then back the Stonehenge out of danger.”

Rharn nodded from the bridge of the Stonehenge, the last thing Peter saw before the connect cut was the concerned face of Matthew as their eyes met.

Peter turned away and nodded to Izzy as he moved to leave the bridge, Kat intercepted him.

“What does this mean for Jackie and Benham?”

“I.. I don’t know.”

Not knowing what else to sat Kat gave her friends shoulder a squeeze as he hurried from the bridge to the science lab

Scene: Science lab

The ring of consoles sat dark surrounding the empty space that the artefact had occupied.

The ring of people surrounding the consoles were stood deliberately close to one another; the Vulcans of the group looking particularly uncomfortable at the proximity of everyone.

As Peter joined them they made room for him in the group, hands grasping his shoulder as he pulled out the device he had received decades ago from the Batamet and set it on the console top before him, letting one hand rest against the familiar surface.

[[All hands, the Stonehenge is about to fire, stand ready.]]

Izzy’s voice was calm as she delivered the news.

Scene: Space

The Stonehenge sat behind the Pendragon; their similar lines blurred by the upgrades the Pendragon had received but for this moment the Stonehenge was the more powerful vessel; the only vessel that could accomplish what was needed.

Irridescant energies gathered around the deflector of the Stonehenge, swirling motes of power flickered, all but obliterating the starlight. The under saucer of the Stonehenge shone with reflected energy.

Normally used to tear a gap just wide enough for the Stonehenge to slip in to another dimension the energies lanced out at the Pendragon, enfolding the large vessel in those same swirling motes of energy that flickered and faded as the Pendragon slipped further out of phase with the galaxy around it.

Abruptly the energy cut off and the Stonehenge’s engines flared, carrying her away from her big sister who was now a mere ghost of herself, the starlight showing through the outline of her hull.
The Pendragon advanced, the crew suddenly finding themselves with much greater control as they and their ship both slipped out of phase with everything else but in to a closer phase with one another.

The giant starship approached the equally large form of the Century, heading straight for the cruiser that until very recently had been the biggest threat any of them faced.

Slowing perceptibly the Pendragon edged ever closer, saucer on saucer, with the Century until the saucers met; and the Pendragon carried on moving through the Century.

Scene: Pendragon Science Lab

The journey for everyone on both ships was disconcerting, the ghostly forms of the other ship and crew moving past them, moving through them, there was no sensation, no feeling to the passage as they moved through the same space, but the sight alone disturbing.

Peter’s mind was elsewhere however as the Pendragon had slipped out of phase and an unlooked for but very welcome side effect of the event occurred.

There were a few shuttles missing from the Pendragon, left elsewhere in the federation by her agents as they had moved about their shadowy business, the only other presences under the same influence from the artefact, the same hold that kept them in this time, were those of Jackie and Benham Aspinall.

And it was these latter two that appeared, expressions of surprise on their faces, right in the sci lab with their father.

Jackie’s expression was puzzlement, Benham’s matched but as he recognised the people in the lab alongside his father he began to understand at least a vague idea of what was the happen as he stepped forwards to join the other telepaths.

The moved slowed even further, barely perceptible until they passed through one last wall in the Century and the artefact became visible in a similar console arrangement in the cruisers science laboratory.

Barely inching along the Pendragon came to rest with the artefact squarely in the same space it had previously occupied on the Pendragon; and the telepathic group got to work.

Each of those present had interacted with the artefact before and it was their direction that had brought the Pendragon home and later to the present timeline.

And now they tried communicated their desire for the artefact.

Slowly, perceptibly, the artefact began to phase too; the combined telepathic command bringing the artefact in to phase with the Pendragon and out of phase with the rest of the universe.

Lieutenant Dray collapsed, the mental strain too much for him; others sagged. Peter felt as though he was being drawn out of himself, and only the network of mental connections between the crew and the Batamet device kept him going.

With one last surge of effort the artefact settled in to physical being before them; a reassuring thud as a minute difference in it’s special position corrected itself.

The telepaths sagged in to one another, preparing themselves for their next required effort.

“Bridge.” Called Peter, “Pull us away from the Century, get us some room.”

The moments as they continued their strange journey were al the respite they would get; medics on standby helping those who had suffered the worst; Jeff himself by Peter’s side.

“That took a lot out of all of you; rest before you bring us back in phase.”

“I wish we could Jeff, but we are slipping further away with every moment; we have to try now.”

The look in Jeff’s eyes was clear, the concern for the people around him that ever doctor Peter knew possessed; even Cade Foster had that look.

“We have no choice Jeff.”

[[We’re clear Captain.]]

“Understood.”

The telepaths reassembled around the artefact; Benham standing by his father’s side.

There was no need to speech, each of the telepaths connected in to a joined telepathic state and when the last was there, secure in the mental arms of the rest they tried to get the artefact to push them back in to normal space.


Scene: Space

The Century turned slowly in space, bringing her prow to bear on the Pendragon; as the waiting ships watched the Pendragon began to shimmer, slowly becoming more opaque before fading back to transparency. An almost imperceptible glow shrouded her as once more she grew opaque, holding longer this time; but then she faded once more; not as one but patching, beginning to phase uncontrollably as before.

Scene: Pendragon Science Lab

Several crew were on the floor this time, already exhausted; This time even the connection to the Batamet device didn’t help as Peter sagged to the floor despite his sons supporting arm.

“Bridge; we can’t do this, the Pendragon is too far gone.”

The silence over the comm and in the science lab was palpable; they had failed; what awaited them nobody knew.

[[Peter, what about our otherselves; could we save them?]] Asked Kat.

It was a possibility they had discussed several times in the year they had spent over Elandipole but in their present state who knew what would happen; but that was the point really, they either had to hope they would survive or do something; make one final conscious decision.

Peter thought momentarily of his daughter and the baby she carried;

“Are you sure Kat?”

[[Is there anything else we can do?]]

Peter knew there wasn’t. “Prepare a data burst, I have no idea how this will work, we have to be ready.”

[[Understood; good luck.]]

“To us all.”

As the comm closed Peter looked at Jeff; “Go, be with your family Jeff, I have no idea what is about to happen, all I can promise is to do my best.”


Scene: Space

The Pendragon settled out of phase once more, if anything even more transparent, once more a glow built as though the very fabric of the ship was fluorescing, the glow built, shades of colour tingeing the outline of the ship, a pulsing power that build to a peak and then abruptly faded. The bright light leaving a shadow on the sight of those watching even of the starship viewscreens, their vision began to clear however but one thing was clear; the Pendragon was gone.

A last message transmitted to all the ships.


[[Thank you]]








NRPG: Well then ! Apologies for the rubbishness, I was rushing this somewhat, if anything doesn’t make sense feel free to tell me !

So the Pendragon is gone….. but not for long.


Peter Aspinall the voice of…

Captain Peter Aspinall
CO
USS Pendragon