• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

“That’s certainly an understatement,” Gold replied. He remembered reading how Daystrom’s lauded attempt to follow up his revolutionary duotronic computer systems had ended in fiery tragedy. During an experiment in which the original Enterprise had been outfitted with Daystrom’s prototype multitronic system, the M-5, the new computer had experienced massive malfunction. After locking the Enterprise crew out of the ship’s critical systems, M-5 took the vessel on a murderous rampage. It had ended with the near destruction of four other Constitution -class starships and the deaths of nearly a thousand Starfleet personnel.

“Well, we’re not out to automate the Defiant ,” Gomez said. “We just want to be able to generate enough thrust to help the da Vinci pull us out of the rift, if necessary. Besides, I don’t like the idea of not being able to move under our own power if the need arises.”

She turned back to P8 Blue. “Pattie, I want you to check out that power reading on Deck 20. Take Dr. Lense with you.”

Lense looked up at that. “Commander, I was hoping to investigate sickbay and see if the ship’s doctor recorded any useful information about the physiological effects of interphase on the crew.”

Shaking her head, Gomez replied, “I haven’t forgotten about you, Doctor, but I’d rather not have Pattie roaming the ship alone until you’re certain the rift won’t have any adverse effects on her. Besides, anything the Defiant ’s doctor recorded will be accessible from the bridge.”

Having stepped away from the team to consult his tricorder, which Duffy had prepared by downloading the technical schematics of the Defiant into it, Gold looked up and asked, “All the way from engineering to the bridge by way of the Jefferies tubes?” The smile he directed to Lense was good-natured enough, though. “Oy, I guess I should have seen that one coming. Well, at any rate, the good doctor here will be thrilled to see me get my week’s exercise quotient during this mission.”

The access panel opened with minimal effort on his part, swinging away to be swallowed by the darkness beyond the hole it revealed. David Gold directed the illumination from his helmet lamps through the opening, becoming the first person in over a century to gaze on the abandoned bridge of the U.S.S. Defiant .

He’d toured the Constitution -class starship that was interred at the Fleet Museum several times, of course. With its display placards and directional signs to guide visitors, however, the vessel on exhibit had seemed to be exactly that; an elegant mock-up rather than a functional ship of the line. This was different, much different.

The consoles, the turbolift doors, the railing surrounding the command well, everything was infused with bright colors that were only slightly diminished by the layer of dust covering everything. It was a striking contrast to the bridge of the da Vinci and other ships on which he had served. By current Federation standards, the Defiant ’s systems were hopelessly outdated, but Gold could see in the archaic equipment how the various systems had evolved over the century separating this ship from her modern-day descendants. He could almost feel the history of the era from which this vessel hailed wash over him.

“Gold to Gomez,” he said as he activated his communicator. “I’ve made it to the bridge. What’s the status on power?”

“Almost there, Captain,” Gomez said over the connection. “Soloman should have the main computer on line a few minutes after that.”

“Excellent,” the captain said as he stepped from the access crawlway onto the starboard side of the upper deck next to the main viewscreen. His boots made a satisfying clank as their magnetic seals attached him to the deck.

As with engineering, thick dust hung in the air. At least, that’s how Gold preferred to think of it. The bridge appeared deserted, but he knew better. He’d read the reports filed by Captain Kirk on their investigation of the Defiant and so was prepared when his light fell