Time to Act Part 2

Posted on Fri Jul 31st, 2026 @ 4:25pm by Commodore Sureth & Captain Terry Kingston & Commander Angel Devroe

Mission: SHAKE DOWN IN A NEBULA
Location: USS Wacamaw
Timeline: Concurrent

On

USS WACAMAW

The upgraded Danube class ship was hopefully sufficient for the mission ahead. Captain Terry Kingston manned the helm and Commodore Sureth took the science console leaving the ship and mission in the tactical hands of Commander Thorn?

" The buoy is close to the marker to the opening of the orifice ." Kingston reported.

Seeing the Commodore at the Science Station Tiffany looked over "I'll grab Tactical Sir" as she grinned to herself thinking he must had been a Science Officer at some point in his career. Looking at the Station it looked rather antiquated from what see had been use to but the controls still looked about the same. Her hands flew over the controls as she initiated long range scanners.

" Holds shields. When we enter this thing it will be shaking. " Kingston warned.

Up ahead was the beacon and then the orifice slowly opened to reveal the Temporal Anomali.

" Sensors shows it is fully active and has an dual funnel system. It's ...is that ....it is a vortices for ingress and egress." Sureth replied. " A highway."

Checking her Tactical scans for shape more than actual data "Captain I concur with the Commodore's analysis" Commander Thorn stated hoping maybe this was the way back home.

The Wacamaw then began to become violently shaken as it proceeded onward down the orifice.

" Hold on folks there is a lot of integral sheering here. Attempting to compensate." Kingston reacted. " Tactical I need full power to forward shield and hull." he added.

"Aye Captain, compensating for forward shield and hull now" Thorn replied as her hands made the necessary adjustments rerouting power.

" Sensors have switched to automatic. The onboard AI has scanned a vessel that has just passed us on the other vortices. " Sureth reported.

" A ship no doubt from another temporal event. Sparks this is Kingston can you identify that ship?"

[ Searching speculations are unclear.] the AI replied.

" We have a choice either pursue that ship or ride this path to the end?" Kingston called out.

"With respect Captain, I vote to ride this thing out to the end since this is our primary reason for the mission" Thorn responded not being bashful in speaking her mind when asked.

" The Commander is right. We need to figure out what's going on here. I have set a marker buoy to deploy before we exit so we can find our way back in" Sureth replied.

" Sounds like a plan everybody hold on."


< End of the Line >

Sureth deployed the buoy and minutes later the Wacamaw exited the anomali somewhat jostled about.

" We have some trouble. That last surge damaged our left nacelle. I need to set us down and make some repairs. Sureth where are we?" Kingston asked.

" Scanning...we are no longer in Federation space according to my readings but I am not detecting any marker buoys. The Computer says we are in Klingon recognised space." Sureth reported.

" Damn...OK I will get us out of here on impulse power." Kingston then decided.

Looking through the view screen "Captain, not only are we not in Federation space I highly doubt we're in your timeline either" Thorn commented with some concern.

An alert quickly sounded as the Wacamaw computer spoke.
[ Two Klingon D 4 cruisers are on approach. Shall I alter our transponder signal?]

" Sparks have they scanned us?"
[ I do not believe so Terry. I have detected a small asteroid field near by that might suit your cover needs.]

" Thorn boost power to the hull. Commodore keep an eye on those cruiser." Kingston replied.

"Aye Captain....boosting power to the hull now" as her hands made the necessary adjustments.

Kingston quickly turned the Wacamaw around and bounced off one asteroid only to land on the large one. " Is everyone all right?"

" My breakfast was not as good the second time." Sureth commented.
" Sorry about that. SPARKS activate the nanobots and begin repairs." Kingston then added.
[ AFFIRMATIVE ]

" Now we try to avoid those Klingons."
" I was able to deduce some figures from the marker buoy. If I configured correctly our window here will close in 97 minutes then this thing moves to another time line." Sureth reported. " That means the ship we passed is from this time line and will be arriving to Starbase M-69 any minute now.

Thinking for a few minutes Tiffany had to ask after hearing the Commodore's explanation "So if the timeline keeps changing every 97 minutes is trying to get back to 2452 a possibility or will it be a, how should I phrase this, a crap shoot." The concept seemed to be quite worrisome.

" The onboard Computer has a theory on that. Somehow this anomali has to have some form of controls. Not unlike a compass. Only for some reason this end of the anomali has become unstable or unsecured. We need more scans of it. " Sureth replied.

" Hard to do when 2 Klingon ships are out there . We need a distraction to lure them away. The nacelle is 39 percent repaired." Kingston replied.

Checking her screens for a suitable target Tiffany suggested "On long range scanners I'm seeing a group of asteroids. I could lock on one of them and fire a torpedo.....when it ignites the object that should lure the Klingons away. By the time they realize where the torpedo originated from you should be able to do the required scans then we can return to your timeline."

" Well done Commander. Nanos are at 50 percent. I would like to get to 80% before we try any thing." Kingston answered.

"Commander are you a student of history? I have scanned those Klingons and deduce this era is circa 2266 based on their design. They have not yet acquired cloaking technology from the Romulans. We might could use that to our advantage Commander." Sureth teased.

"With respect Commodore, I would just as soon not test history" Thorn responded with a light chuckle sensing Sureth's attempt at being humorous.

Even Kingston had to chuckle at Thorns answer. But that chuckle paused as his readouts showed an intriguing bit of data. The tether to the Janus anomaly was present in this time line.

" Fortunately for us the shield on this vessel act as a form of cloak to their old sensors. We should be undetected." Sureth added.

But the onboard computer known as Sparks made a report

[ Scanning a cloaked device near the orifice of the perimeters of the anomali. It is cloaked using phased shifting. ] Sparks told Kingston.

" Sparks can it be retethered?" Kingston asked.
[ Unable to determine. The phase shifting seems to be engaged causing the anomali to change time periods every 3 hours.]

Sureth looked to Commander Thorn.
" If we bring it out of interphase it might resinc?"

Remembering her science background Tiffany thought for a few moments "Theoretically that's possible" as she paused "But we'd have to be at the mouth of the opening and hit it with a phasic burst....that should hopefully re-sync the anomaly. If we can accomplish that successfully then maybe the Dresden has a chance to get back to our own timeline" she explained having the first glimmer of hope of returning home since they had been deposited in another timeline.

" Shields or not if we fire at that thing the Klingons might detect the explosion. We have to be spot on. Ready your beam Commander." Kingston replied.

"Understood Captain" Thorn replied. Making the required calculations she locked onto the target then checked her numbers one last time "All set Captain....awaiting your order Sir" as her hands were steady on the screen.

" May your aim be true..." Kingston blessed as he pointed with his finger to proceed.

The interphasic device was huge compared to the small Wacamaw but bringing it into phase was just what was needed. Soon both ingress and egress apatures appeared in unison.

" It's a temporal highway. Sparks scan the markings on that thing." Kingston yelled.
[ Translation in terran standard reads as follows: Welcome all travelers! It is a derivative language from the Preservers. ]

" The Preservers are an ancient species. They must have used this anomali to move about the universe. Captain Kingston we need to get home to our time." Sureth replied.

The device had some damage and Kingston made a gamble he hoped would work. Transporting several of the Cybrid nanobots up to it he hoped they would be able to make the repairs go quicker.

" Course laid in I hope they let us pass. " Kingston replied as he moved the Wacamaw into position.

[ Message coming in ] Sparks reported.

The voice was smooth and feminine

" We are aware of your delicate situation and will allow this passage back to your time. Thank you for resetting the Expanse. " the voice stated.

" You are welcome." Kingston replied.

Sureth looked over to Commander Thorn.

" We have to get you home next."

Tiffany grinned "As much as I find your timeline interesting Commodore you'll won't get any arguments from me; the Dresden belongs back in it's own timeline" she responded with more than just hope now.

As soon as the Wacamaw entered the anomali this time everything went white and did not resume until they were one the other side of the temporal straw.

" Report ?" Kingston called out.

Checking the long range sensors "I'd say your back to your timeline since I'm picking up M-69 on sensors" Thorn responded pleased things were coming together.

" We still have an issue to consider Captain . Wherever is the Klingon ship that passed us?" Sureth asked.

Checking her sensors " Commodore I'm not picking up any Klingon vessels in our immediate area or on long range sensors" as she paused looking towards Sureth "I can only deduce they are still in their timeline and not yours" Thorn replied.

" Something passed us when we first exited...back then. It could be stuck in Expanse?" deduced Kingston.

" Let's get home." Sureth nudged.

" Next stop Starbase M-69. "

Hearing Sureth a smile came across Tiffany's face.....now she was one step closer to going home and back to her own timeline.



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