Crossover - Michael Jan Friedman [14]
“Of course,” the engineer replied, getting up. “The lad was just asking me about the secondary functions of auxiliary control. Perhaps ye could explain them to him.”
Joining the rest of the group, Scotty endured the remainder of the tour. But it was a blur to him, really. His mind raced ahead as he planned his next moves.
So engaged, the engineer barely noted the brief visit to the starboard engine pod, or the tour of the science labs, sickbay, the observation deck, and the crew quarters. An hour later, he made a point of being the first one on the turbolift going to the bridge.
He couldn’t afford to have his time cut short up there. He knew he would get only one shot at what he had to do.
When the turbolift door opened, Scotty emerged, intent on his objectives. So intent, in fact, that he was unprepared for the sight that greeted him.
It was like stepping into a dream. He stared openmouthed at the bridge, unable to shake the feeling he was home—that he was on the Enterprise.
Vaguely aware that he was holding up the people behind him, Scotty moved aside to let them out. Then he stood there for a moment, shaking his head.
Why did he have this feeling? This was the Yorktown, not the Enterprise. And though to the untrained eye the bridges of Constitution-class ships were quite similar, an experienced officer could always tell the difference.
After all, there were changes in the shipyard specs from ship to ship. There were design improvements, alterations in monitor sizes and shapes, fine-tuning of station ergonomics.
And yet, this bridge was absolutely identical to the one where Scotty had served.
Puzzled, he turned his head to read the dedication plaque next to him.
My God, he thought. It’s nae possible.
But it was. The plaque clearly read:
U.S.S. ENTERPRISE
CONSTITUTION CLASS
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
A voice next to him said, “I thought you knew, sir.”
Scotty turned to see Ensign Hammond standing next to him.
“This bridge module was removed from the original Enterprise during the refit in Twenty-two Seventy. When the Yorktown was decommissioned the bridge was damaged, so the museum used the Enterprise’s module.”
Unable to speak, Scotty simply nodded. Once the ensign had turned away, however, he headed for his station and took a seat behind the engineering console.
He could feel his throat constricting as he worked. Calling up the prefix code, he changed it to ensure that no one on board the starbase would be able to access the ship’s primary systems.
Then he increased the rate of the warp engine overload he had begun from auxiliary control. It would only be a few moments now.
Turning his attention to the rest of the group, Scotty saw Ensign Hammond explaining modular bridge design to the others, while the young boy lectured another child on the Enterprise’s encounters with the Romulans.
Both conversations were interrupted when warning lights went off on most of the bridge stations. Almost simultaneously, the ensign’s communicator beeped.
“Hammond here,” she said.
The voice on the communicator, which Scotty thought he recognized as the base commander’s, instructed her to go to the communications station. Once there, she picked up an earpiece and listened to a private message. When the ensign returned to the group, she was all business.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to be getting back to the starbase now,” Hammond informed everyone there.
“Is there a problem?” asked one of the adults in the group.
“Are we under attack?” asked the boy—hopefully, Scotty would have sworn.
Hammond managed a semblance of her usual smile. “Nothing like that, I’m afraid. But there is a minor malfunction in the life support system. It’s nothing to worry about, really, but I’ve been asked to escort you back to the base so maintenance crews can make repairs.”
She gestured toward the turbolift. “So, if you will please enter the turbolift five at a time, it will take you directly to the shuttlebay and we can be on our way.”
As the first group