Reaching the pocket universe

The three starships flew in a somewhat erratic pattern within the eye of the cosmic storm that raged arround the tunneling void leading them towards it's center, a blinding white light that looked to every spacefarer aboard like an unending supernova. And then, before the eyes of everyone looking out, be it from computer-generated image or organic visual receptor, the light started to shimmer and to diffuce into an immense silvery-white surface, like a cosmic-sized drop of mercury, silvery, shiny and strangely waving like some smooth liquid surface.

And right before their eyes appeared three starships rushing right at them.

"Nothing on sensors, Captain," reported Valencia Irksos. "All our signals are being reflected back."

The trio of vessels coming at them included a colossal disc-shaped structure with a sleek curved neck linking it to a squat oval cylinder behind which two angled straight pylons held up long tubular projections; an elongated, flatened arrowhead-shaped vessel ending in a pair of short tubular nacelles; and a much smaller rectangular ship with a round bow and a parallel  tubular projection extending from each side.

All three were on a perfect intercept course, coming at them at the same velocity as they themselves rushed towards the silver bubble at the heart of the fire and lightning storm swirling around them.

On the Phoenix, Jonathan Livingstone was seeing the same readings and, after a few seconds of surprise in his wide, blinking eyes, understood them and reported to his commanding officer.

"It's... us, captain. It's a reflection of some sort... but not just a visual one. Passive sensors are registering chroniton emissions."

"Temporral distorrsions?" wondered Mrriin M'ata, rechecking her tactical sensors every few seconds between staring at the main viewer.

"Affirmative. It might be an image of the time of our return... or of our approach a few seconds ago... or some other future travel. It might even be a glimpse into all of them at the same time or of what is happening in another parallel quantum universe or possible parallel timeline that might or might not be. This... area reads much like the end aperture of a colossal subspace fracture. We could learn a lot about the relation between space and time, matter and energy here."

On the Horizon, the same report was given to Kheren who nodded.

"Another time, surely... something for the Phoenix to plan as some future research task. For now, we have another mission to complete. Steady as she goes."

For a moment, it seemed that the ships would collide with one another; then, the three vessels coming at them seemed to stretch, flicker, multiply and fill the entire silvery mirror that filled their entire field of view. There was a blinding flash of light that seemed to stretch beyond eternity and brutally end in an instant.

Once everyone blinked, they saw stars. 

They were far and distant, a vast stretch of blackness and void separating them from the nearest ones. Behind them, the Azimuth Horizon crackled and burned like a neverending supernova. before them sprawled cosmic immensity, with stars that most of them had never seen before, and none yet had gone to.

Another universe was spread out before them.

Kheren allowed a moment for everyone to get their bearings back, including himself. Then he took a deep breath, like someone about to dive into deep, unknown waters.

"Horizon to task group; we proceed as planned. Reactivate all warp systems. All science and monitoring stations on duty."

He sat forward and voiced historical words once said by captain Jean-Luc Picard when he took command of the legendary USS Enterprise.

"Let's see what's out there."

As the words echoed through the bridge of the Phoenix Riker, smiling as he turned from the console he was standing behind, patted Livingstone on the shoulder and then turned around to walk towards his seat.

"You heard the Captain!  We are explorers, so let's explore"

Sitting Riker turned to Captain Syntron/

"At your command Sir"

Captain Syntron was still intrigued by and reflecting on the unusual mirror image event that occurred when the voice of his first officer broke the spell.

The Vulcan activated the ship-wide com.

"Attention crew. We have arrived to our first destination point in this region across the barrier. Science stations, prepare sensors for comprehensive mapping."

The captain allowed a swift glance to his avian CSO before proceeding on.

'First, we will accompany the Horizon to its chosen position to set-up the new home for their numerous guests. Once we have assurances that the Horizon's team have this matter in-hand, we will be continuing onward with our exploration. Security, maintain alert status throughout this process since we are unquestionably traveling into unknown regions."

The captain paused reflectively for a moment before continuing; trying to put his thoughts into words.

"All hands, remain attentive to the possibility of anything unusual occurring as we proceed. If you note something which appears out of the ordinary,  report it immediately to your department head.  Be specific with your observations and any concerns. As the old Earth expression goes: better safe than sorry. Captain out."

Deactivating the ship-wide com,  Syntron addressed the helmsman.

"Proceed ahead. Match the velocity of the Horizon." 

The sight of interstellar space studded with distant flickering points of light was all too familiar; yet, none of those stars were. They had gone beyond their own universe and into a totally new one barely a few had ever glimpsed before and none had yet explored.

They had gone beyond the mirror, beyond the horizon... where no one had gone before.

"Status report," ordered Kheren after a good minute so as to let everyone, including himself, get their bearings and cope with what was now laid out before them."

Aron'Son was similarly intrigued by what they had seen as they crossed the threshold. He was not a scientist though, he was a soldier and as such he immediately began checking the Horizon's defensive and offensive systems for any distortions. Finding nothing of note he started diagnostic programs and reactivated internal security sensor sweeps.

"Aron'Son to Ensign Kyle."

"Here Sir"

"What is the colonists status?"

"They're still here Sir."

"Understood, deploy your teams in a....non-threatening manner."

"Yes Sir, Kyle out."

With the report from his security team clearly overheard Aron'Son updated the captain with the tactical system status.

"Captain, all tactical systems are online and standing by for your orders. Internal security sweeps and ongoing tactical diagnostics are in progress."

"Thank you, Mister Aron'son. Stand down from security alert and give your people time to rest but make sure that they can ready themselves at a moment's notice. Maintain our safety protocols."

"Aye Sir," Aron'Son replied acknowledging the order. Rest was a foreign concept to the Jem'Hadar, but he knew that humans and most other species required some form of daily recuperation time. It was something he needed to keep in mind as this mission continued to make sure his people were prepared for any threats they may face.

"Polaris still with us and Phoenix coming at standard flight formation, marching course and speed," reported Aguk Snow. "Mister Moore finally learned his lesson well."

Kheren did not react to the now familiar friendly competitive banter between his proud chief helmsman and his ambitious chief assistant.

"Plot a course to the Eden system, standard cruising speed."

"Course plotted and laid in, captain. ETA one point zero-six days."

"Transmit and request confirmation from the other ships."

"Aye, Captain," answered Lyrya manning communications with a much more relaxed expression than a moment before.

***

As the USS Polaris cleared the threshold of the anomaly Jureth found himself gripping the arms of his command chair as if expecting some sort of impact. When none came and he realized what he'd been doing the Bajoran relaxed and made the same demand as Captain Kheren had done on the Horizon.

"Status report"

"Offensive and defensive systems online Sir, and standing by." the imposing Capellan Kalaar reported.

"Sensors are online and functioning Sir," Lieutenant Ji'lan said evenly "I am currently analyzing the data from the crossing an correlating with readouts from the Horizon.

"Be ready with those sensors Lieutenant," Oseno ordered "We'll be using them to their full capacity shortly."

Ji'lan nodded but didn't look up from her data screen.

"Oseno to engineering, core status?"

"We are just beginning the core startup procedure Sir. It will be thirty standard minutes before the core is fully operational." replied the even voice of Ensign V'rel

"Understood," Jureth replied "and neither of you felt any negative effects from the crossing?"Oseno asked the question knowing the anomaly's known effects on certain species.

"No severe effects Sir, Doctor Lowe was present during our transversal of the anomaly and ensured our well being."

"Thank you Mister V'rel, Oseno out."

"Mister Palos, a channel to the Horizon if you will."

The intelligence officer only nodded and Oseno knew it was because the man felt he was above simply manning a bridge console. Palos pointed at Oseno a moment later indicating the channel was ready.

"Polaris to Horizon, Oseno here Captain; we came through without a scratch, Sir, and are standing by for your orders."

The familiar voice and face of the Andorian commanding officer came through the ship to ship channel loud and clear.

"Now that you are already out there, Polaris, let us shake your legs a bit. Implement standard escort duties for our... convoy until we reach our mission target. Once there, implement patrol and survey of the system as soon as the Phoenix breaks formation for it's own sector mapping duties. You will be watchdog for us and cavalry for them."

"Understood Sir, Polaris out." Jureth replied motioning for Palos to close the channel "Mister Hunter, you heard the Captain, assume an escort position and match course and speed of our charges. Mister Kalaar, take us to yellow alert, shields up weapons to stand by. Lieutenant Ji'lan, sensors at max, keep an eye out for anything that could possibly be a ship or other threat."

As his officers carried out their duties, and the bridge lighting changed color to signify the alert status Jureth stared at the unfolding universe before them on the viewer. What would they find, he wondered, were there other beings like themselves out here? Would there be hostile species like Voyager found during her trip through the Delta Quadrant? Somehow he doubted that the colonization of this Eden would go smoothly. In his experience, such things never did.

*             *             *

From a biobed within sickbay of the Phoenix, the Andorian Science officer slowly opened her eyes simultaneously as her antennae became active. Her acute senses detected the sights and sounds of the medical monitoring equipment streaming an array of data, images and sounds around her.  

Kalynda raised the upper part of her blue-hued body so swiftly though that it threw her equilibrium off for a moment.

"What I am doing on here in sickbay? she demanded to no one in particular, as she gazed around slightly disoriented.

"I was at the science station on the bridge..." she exclaimed as her voice trailed off as she tried to reconstruct in her mind what had occurred that brought her here to sickbay.

Listening intently Doctor Gray did all he could to hide his annoyance at how much Kalynda was wiggling on the medical bed.  Holding her head slightly the Doctor continued.

"I am going to continue to run scans and you are going to sit still.  If you could remember what happened to you without moving so much that would be great"

As he ran a medical tricorder over her head the doctor saw only the basic signs of fainting, but nothing to explain the onset of the symptoms.

"interesting.  So tell me what is the last thing you remember"

With a subtle sigh of discontent, the Andorian tried to relax as she spoke.

"Like I indicated Doctor, the last thing I recall was tending my duties on the bridge."

Kalynda continued to piece together the last recollections before awakening in sickbay.

"I remember everything starting to lose color and then light itself began to blacken out. After that I have no idea."

"What happened to me?" she inquired still perplexed by her circumstances.

((tag to Doctor Gray or anyone else in sickbay))

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