Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Timeship Terrapin (Part Two)

I'm now back on the Bridge of the Enterprise after my chat with Captain Gordon and Lieutenant Arden on the Federation Timeship Terrapin.

There's a dangerous Brakenese fanatic named Tega who has escaped from the 30th Century and will try to sabotage the Zarn/Braken Peace Conference that is about to start on Tarsal IV.

As things would be, I'm the only one who can stop him. It's at times like this I wish I was on vacation.

I discreetly talk to Lieutenant Worf, and give Tega's description to him; tough, with long wild hair and a manic look.

"What has he done, sir?" asks Worf.

"I can't tell you that, Mr Worf." I reply, "He's a danger, and your security teams need to be on the lookout for him while the conference goes on."

Worf looks puzzled, as he always does when he hasn't got enough information, but circulates the description to the team.

---------------------

Shortly after, I beam down in my best Captain's outfit, that I had cleaned in the laundry last night; with me is Deanna, Riker, Worf and Crewman Jenkins. I figured we might need a spare man for this, in the best traditions that had been practised by Captain James T. Kirk.

Before the conference starts, all the delegates are drinking, getting ready for the impending talks. The Zarn representatives are all very friendly to the Brakenese; not long ago it would have been a fight to the death.

I am looking pleased with everything, as I know I'll get the credit if all goes well; however, inside I am feeling uneasy that Tega may be somewhere about. If he succeeds, it'll play havoc with my Starfleet pension.

I use the communicator to talk to Worf.

"Everything all right, Mr Worf?"

"Yes, sir, no sign of the man you describe." he answers.

"Captain." says Deanna, "I sense great unease in you, as if you feel something bad will happen; surely this will be a time of great joy?"

"Just a little nervous, Counselor." I reply. Deanna looks suspicious.

I then go to talk to Crewman Jenkins on my Com. No reply. I try again and alert Worf with the Security team.

Eventually, we find Jenkins lying unconscious in the bushes away from the conference area; his uniform is missing, but wearing a prison outfit.

"What is going on here?" asks Worf.

"Temporal Prime Directive." I say to him, using the line Captain Gordon tried on me. It's actually quite effective, as no one questions it anymore.

"Just be on the lookout for the man I told you about." I tell him, Riker and Deanna, "He'll be wearing a Crewman's uniform; he's dangerous."

With the conference due to start in a few moments, we've got to find Tega. I'm not letting him spoil my chance of getting brownie points with Starfleet.

As the delegates assembe at the conference table, I see a tough tall man with long hair and a manic look in a Crewman's uniform that is too small for him; he's got a phaser and is aiming it at the Zarn representative.

I get my phaser and zap him quickly, like the marshal in a lawless wild west town.

Everything changes; I am back on the Terrapin. The body of Tega is next to me.

"Well done, Captain Picard." says Gordon, "The impending timeline disruption has been saved, and everything can now go on."

"Very adequate." sniffs Lieutenant Arden.

I guess there's no pleasing some people.

"We'll send you back to the conference now, Captain." says Gordon, "It will be a great success, but remember the Temporal Prime Directive."

How can I forget? I think I'll use it as a reply when I can't think of a good answer.

20 comments:

heather said...

yes, an awesome retort for every confusing situation! i will try to use it myself.

merlyn said...

The old Expendable crewman trick... I suppose that's your universe's answer to Lord Vaer's force choke... a good way of weedingout the weak and inefficiant. (Was he wearing red by any chance?)

TPD - I shall have to remember that...*giggle*

May I ask, Captain, does it not get confusing zipping about time like that? I should think it was enough to give one a sarlacc sized headache.

I hope you have plenty of asperin on board!

-merly

Florence Forrest said...

Its all about being at the right place at the right time, isn't it.

Perhaps you could accumulate a set of "Captain Excuses" like AskANinja has. What would Your top 5 be?

no_average_girl said...

Congrats, Captain! Hope you get many brownie points from Starflee for it!!!

emi said...

Poor Jenkins, at least he was only naked and unconscious! The Expendable Man is usually, err, expended.

Well done, Cappy!

Lahdeedah said...

I really enjoy this site.

After finding Jenkins, though, and seeing his clothing was stolen, wouldn't it just have been easier to shoot all the red-shirts? I think that would have been more expedient.

aug said...

it was also pretty decent of tega to clothe jenkins in his (tega's) prison outfit. i suppose it was to protect jenkins' modesty.

tega can't be all bad, eh?

Miss Cellania said...

"Very adequate." Almost an oxymoron, talk about damning with faint praise! I'll have to file that one away for future zingers.

Trinity13 said...

Way to go Capt!!!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Merlyn, I agree; one should have an aspirin for time travel.

Florence, 5 Captain's excuses is a good list. 'Temporal Prime Directive' is right at the top.

No Average Girl, Starfleet never seem to bestow many brownie points.

Emi, Jenkins was wearing a prison uniform.

Lahdeedah, shooting redshirts is not a good idea, as red is the Command colour.

Miss Cellania, I look forward to seeing more oxymorons.

Vampi, Arden does seem hard to please.

By the way no one spotted the names of Captain Gordon & Lietenant Arden....those surnames were obtained from Flash Gordon & Dale Arden

Jen said...

Well done! I always enjoy your stories :-)

You're right, it was the Manson Family!

Renee said...

Did you twirl that phaser in your fingers and blow on the end like a real cowboy when you were done zapping the bad guy? Good shot Captain.

Professor Xavier said...

You could always slip back in time and prevent Arden's parents from meeting. Problem solved.

Paperback Writer said...

Good shot Captain!

Osquer said...

Nice shootin', Tex!

Viamarie said...

Great job! Enjoyed reading your post.

Happy Thursday.

Radical One said...

vacation? um, yea i think that's what i would have done! hehe

and as always, thanks for your kind and encouraging comments!

blessings!
lisa

A Army Of (Cl)One said...

The Temproal Prime Directive is kinda bogus. It one of those thing people use when thay dont want to work, like saying I got the flu or my grandma died again.


Good job!

Karen said...

30th century! and here I'm living in the 10th. I'm always behind! :o

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Perhaps I can say "Temporal Prime Directive" to my manager if I'm late for the office, or if I do something wrong?