BY: GLADIATOR
Anarchy
reigned aboard the U.S.S. Excelsior as
Sulu’s crew fought for control. The
ship was badly damaged, and not responding to helm controls.
Warp engines were off-line, and all sensors were down.
Life Support only minimal. The
bridge was smashed, computers inoperative, yet somehow they were alive!
A
giant rift, or wormhole, opened in space/time around the ship and she was spared
the misery from the blackness which had pursued her.
The condition of the remaining crew, however, was a mystery.
Many had gone mad with rage attacking each other with cries of panic and
despair, chanting incoherent phrases over and over, and raving of Armageddon.
A dismal feeling amalgamated Excelsior
as she spun out of control in her new surroundings...
On
the bridge, Sulu tried to take charge despite an incessant feeling of
hopelessness.
“Communications,
give me ship-wide intercom,” Sulu’s voice interrupted the insanity echoing
throughout the starship.
"This
is the Captain, senior staff of all stations please take charge, and report in
with damage estimates and remaining crew rosters. We all need to be strong men.
Get a hold of yourself. We
are at bay for the moment with the outside force.
Let’s get our ship functioning again.
Sulu out.”
Sulu
took in a breath. “Sickbay, Dr.
Hatfield, give me an assessment as soon as possible on the madness which has
inundated the crew.” “Security
team to the brid...” Sulu cut himself short as a crewmember suddenly dashed
across the bridge and grasped for his neck.
“I’ll kill you... I’ll
kill you... you son’s of
bitches... I’ll kill
you...They’re coming... you
can’t get away...’ Sulu subdued him to the ground as other officers helped
in the frenzy. The man turned almost fiendish while being restrained and
continued struggling until finally being stunned with a phaser.
“Ph-nglui
mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn...
aaaaahhhhhhh....rrrrraaaaa...
Old Ones...the way of the goat, the way of the future...........Old
Ones...haaahahhahha hhahahahhaha”
Security
arrived phasers drawn, and abruptly now the man lay silent after a feverish bout
of laughter. Sulu didn’t know
what to make of it. He climbed back
into this command chair as the intercom whistled.
‘Engineering
to Bridge, auxiliary power restored.”
“Main
viewscreen on... try your
sensors...” Sulu barked.
The
monstrous hulk of the space station glimmered in the light as the sun’s
brightness reflected from beyond the planets’ shadow. Three StarFuries raced toward Excelsior
with their weapons pulsing with energy. 
“This
is Commander Susan Ivanova, Space Station Babylon 5, identify yourself.”
“Hailing
frequencies open Captain....” a young ensign called out from the console.
“This is Captain Hikaru Sulu of the Federation Starship Excelsior.
We have just arrived from some sort of wormhole into uncharted space.
Our ship is in grave condition and in need of critical repair, perhaps
you can lend us a hand.” Sulu didn’t wish to tip his cards at the Excelsior’s current vulnerability, but right now with several
hundred of his crew lost, they needed help.
"A
wormhole? Hmmm,” Ivanova replied. “We
were wondering how your ship wasn’t detected on our long range sensors coming
through the jump gate. Standby Excelsior.” Ivanova contacted Captain Sheridan and briefed him on the
situation. “Bring them on into
docking bay 8 Susan. Best we lend
them some hospitality. We could use
a new friend with the Shadows lurking around once again.”
Sheridan
terminated the transmission with Ivanova, and the image of Excelsior reappeared on the vidscreen. The arrival of the alien ship was not a good sign.
Humans no less. G'kar had been right. Hurriedly,
he left the bridge and went to greet the station's new guests.
Funny, he thought to himself, he was becoming more and more like Delin
all the time.
The docking was routine...but what happen next was not...
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