Post by rwebb on Sept 6, 2010 21:58:11 GMT -5
"The USS North Carolina was facing horrible odds", says her Captain, Commander Rob Webb. "We were just minding our own business mapping an M-class planet, one believed suitable for a starbase and BOOM...! Suddenly there was a massive demon looming in front of our starship. We tried to steer out of its wake, but we got pulled into the black hole, which was created by this monstrosity... and off we went. That was the year 2233. We've learned that the ship was the Narada...
But I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. At the time of this incident, the North Carolina was in its second year of service. Built by Nir Industries, a division of "Nir Schneider Starship Design and Architecture", this new line of quick-hitting style starships was the Federation's answer to the rising Klingon threat. The USS North Carolina was the second contract in the Ascendance class line that was built.
Equipped with experimental warp engines, she was the fastest ship in the fleet back then, and as for the crew, we like to think that we were the proudest. We had what we swore was the best commanding officer that the Federation had to offer! Captain Sexton brought out the best in us. He was stern yet fair. The last time I saw him was that terrible morning in the transporter room, as he and five others beamed down to the planet in which we were orbiting. I can still hear him saying, "Mr. Webb, the ship is yours. Hold things together until I get back."
A few hours later, we were ripped away from all that we knew, including our captain and crew who were marooned on the planet. I have hoped however, that the Federation sent a rescue vessel to their aid.
We were unaware at the time that that the Romulan mining vessel, Narada, was entombed in the vortex along with us. Suddenly, the North Carolina shook violently! The Narada was heavily damaged due to the collision with another federation vessel, which we learned later that it was the USS Kelvin. Explosions and shock waves on the Narada caused the North Carolina to be hurled from the black hole into a different time in a parallel universe. All hands were unconscious as the ship rode out the last remaining waves and then gently stabilized its self.
After regaining consciousness, we began to pick up the pieces, damage reports, casualty reports, and getting all systems back on line. We tried contacting the fleet, but the normal frequencies that we used proved to be of little use. That left us with little choice but to activate the distress beacon and hope that the Klingons would not intercept it. Last thing we needed after the ride we just had was to be taken prisoner and have the newest ship of the line, along with all its secrets, captured by the enemy.
As the bridge systems came back to life, an unexpected "What the..." came from the helm. My wife, Lt. Commander Nancy Webb, was manning the helm when the computer came on line. The report that she gave left everyone in silence. "Commander, if the readings are accurate", she said, "then we have arrived fifty-two years in the future. According to the chronometer, the Stardate is 2285.0322
Taking the captains chair, all my training came to focus on the situation. "Communications?"
The officer at that station confirmed the distress beacon was indeed transmitting. I made several commands, and just as the crew had performed under Captain Sexton, they remained just as efficient under my command. I asked for our current location, and just like the rest of this day, the answer I got was just as strange. Lt. Commander Webb informed me that according to star charts, we were in the heart of the Mutara Nebula, but according to our view screen, there was no such nebula. Instead, what filled the screen was a glowing planet.
What happened next... well, I'll let you be the judge.
Our speakers on the bridge crackled, then came to life. "Federation vessel, this is the USS Enterprise, James T. Kirk commanding. Are you in need of assistance?"
Do we need assistance?? Of course we do, I thought.
Their chief engineer, one very unusual Scotsman, beamed aboard and worked with our engineer and soon our engines were back on line. We were able to make it back to space dock and as soon as our briefing we found that quite a lot of things had changed. One thing is that the North Carolina had originally been listed as MIA in, what is called the '2233 Incident' all those years ago... well, just yesterday for us.
