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“The shield malfunction is due to external interference,” Spock pointed out. “Can you remedy it?”

“Aye,” he said. “Give me a few minutes. We canna help the Columbus if we’re torn apart.”

Spock considered. “Continue your work.”

The engineer lifted his head and smiled. “I’ll do my best, sir.”

“The data from the Columbus indicates that its shields are unaffected,” said Spock. “This suggests that the Hofstadter is more susceptible.” Spock knew some of the differences between the G-class Hofstadter and F-class Columbus, but not as thoroughly as Scott.

Scott paused his work for a moment. “The Hofstadter is a later model,” he said, thinking aloud, “and the power conduits that feed the shields are larger—leaving less room for insulation. The interference could be through… That narrows it down, Mister Spock.” The engineer resumed his work.

Spock returned to the pilot’s seat to examine the report from the Columbus. It was not unheard of for a planetary population to go to great lengths to save itself, including mass migration and climate modification. It was an unorthodox solution to place the entire population in hypersleep. It appeared to have worked. The atmosphere of Farrezz was near normal levels for the life-forms the Columbus team had found.

The shuttle was ready for takeoff. However, Scott continued to work on the shields. Spock conferred with Jaeger about the storm system. If the Columbus was still being followed, the Hofstadter crew would need to leave this location as quickly as possible, and he did not want to incur any more damage from the storm.

Spock’s discussion was interrupted.

“Hofstadter, this is the Columbus. We’re five minutes out. Can you ready the door?”

“Hofstadter receiving,” answered Spock. “Which door?”

“The southwestern, sir.”

“We will be ready.”

Spock closed the channel and called for Kologwe to join him. They headed back into the warehouse. Mister Scott was no longer on top of the Hofstadter, but bent over a nacelle, adjusting his hyperspanner.

“What’s going on, sir?” asked Scott. “Are they all right?”

“We will know in a moment.”

Spock quickly strode across the warehouse. He noted Lieutenant Kologwe was carrying a phaser rifle. “A logical precaution, Lieutenant.” Spock activated the door’s opening mechanism, and Kologwe pointed the phaser rifle through the growing aperture. The wind raged through the opening, carrying gusts of rain, clumps of dirt, and bits of debris. When the door had retreated fully, Spock was barely able to remain standing.

The noise made it impossible to be heard. Spock resorted to flashlight signals. The Columbus was hovering half a meter above the ground, moving slowly forward, when a strong gust of wind hit its side and threw it off its course.

It struck the building wall at a height of four meters with a crash that managed to permeate the howling wind. The considerable force shattered part of the wall, and pieces of various sizes began to fall.

Broken pieces blocked all their escape routes. Spock and Kologwe had nowhere to go.

Scotty was watching as Spock guided the Columbus into the warehouse. When the shuttle slammed into the wall, he jumped into action. He grabbed his phaser in one quick flick, set it to a wide spread, and fired.

The beam disintegrated most of the debris. Spock’s Vulcan reflexes did the rest, pulling himself and Kologwe to safety. The engineer looked up to see that the Columbus was moving forward again. When it had cleared the entrance, Spock immediately closed the door, keeping wind and rain out.

Scotty rushed over to the Columbus, M’Benga right behind him with his medkit. The others quickly joined them. What had gone wrong?

When the hatch finally opened the doctor rushed in. Scotty hoped Rawlins and Seven Deers were okay. He knew Seven Deers had a family on Alpha Centauri. Her two children were adults, but they still shouldn’t have to lose a parent.

Scotty moved off to the aft section of the Columbus to see if there’d been any damage from hitting the side