Chapter: II

Welcome Aboard…. The Enterprise

There was nothing but white blurry light, as it came all into focus, it was a white light. The man turned over slightly and saw his wife; she was alive. The man, looked around, and wondered where he was. "You're awake, Relax, you've been out for eight hours," said a female voice coming closer to him. "Who are you? Where am I?" Asked the man. The woman had blonde-reddish hair, a little past shoulder length. "I was about to ask the same thing," Said the women. Who was dressed in a uniform, that was gray mid-chest to the neck, with a Star Badge pinned on her right side on the gray. The Rest of the Uniform was black, but around the neck you could see blue…. "I'm Dr. Johnson, that's my wife, she'll be alright?" Asked, Dr. Johnson who couldn't believe it he was aboard the Enterprise E, but how? It wasn't possible. It was Sci-Fi, It had to be all a get up, and maybe he was dead. Surely not, he thought. It was too real, but how? Last thing he remembered I was trying to get to the Stargate with Christie, then a loud noise and that was it. But how did they not run into a Starfleet ship before? That is if they were in the same Galaxy. Did the Federation gain access to Hyperdrive? He couldn't tell, he was confused--- "Dr. Johnson, you're with will be fine," Said Dr. Crusher who was looking over at Christie. "But where are we?" Asked Dr. Johnson, though he couldn't hide a little bit that he knew exactly where he was. "I'm not sure that is up to me," Said Dr. Crusher, with a smile. "Then may I speak to Cap- I mean to who's in charge?" Asked Johnson, as he stared back trying to keep calm and not let them know he knew who was in charge. "I'm sure we can arrange that," Said Dr Crusher, she tapped her Badge and started to speak. "Captain Picard, to Sickbay please our mystery patients want a word with you," said Dr. Crusher. A voice responded, "On my way," Said Captain Picard via the com-link. "Mark? MARK?!" Said Christie who had suddenly woke up. "It's alright, just relax, you're safe," Said Dr. Crusher as she came over to Christie. "Who are you?" Asked Christie. "I am Dr. Crusher, you're going to be alright," answered Dr. Crusher. Christie looked around and she was in shock….

Suddenly, the Sickbay doors slid open, a bald man entered. He wore the same uniform as Dr. Crusher except where there was blue on Dr. Crusher's uniform there was red and four Brass-gold rank pips. Mark new he was though he did look like Mr. Clean. "Oh my G---" Christie said nervously and very much loudly… but cut off when she saw the look from Mark. The man looked at Christie and then at Mark. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard, of the Federation Starship Enterprise," said Captain Picard. "I am Colonel Mark Johnson and that's my wife Christie, we come in peace," Said Mark, who couldn't believe what he was saying or seeing. "Who are you? Where are you from? Colonel from? How did you get here?" Asked Captain Picard "We're from Earth, United States Air Force, also Doctors. We are humans, just like you. Our… ah Aliens where we come from call us the Tau'ri," said Dr. Johnson. Mark was trying to keep it smoothly. He did not know how they got here. "Captain, I know your duty is first to your ship and it's crew. But if we find a way to get home. Would you be so kind?" Said Christie. Who looked at Captain Picard then to Mark. "Of course, Colonel we will try. We'll give you quarters in the mean time. Now do you have a ship? How'd you get all the way out here?" Asked Picard… There were near Cait at the very "Southern" end of Federation Space. They had found a small planet, if it was hardly that at all. It wasn't class M… But the Starship, Titan Commanded by William Riker had detected Artificial Energy readings from their sensors. However, the Titan had to be re-called to deliver supplies to DS9. So the Enterprise was ordered to find out what happened…. By the time they got there, the energy readings were erratic, overloading explosions, and life signs, only two and an energy reading that went off the charts… They weren't able to explore much of the base most of it was destroyed wiped out by whatever caused the overload.

"No ship, though one may come to look for us, I don't know. How we got here… is…" Mark paused for moment not sure to tell them about the Stargate. It was hard, if they found it, they'd be able to get home.. But then the Federation would start asking questions. "Small scout ship dropped us off out here," said Mark, may we get to our Quarters, Captain?" Mark finished.. Picard didn't answer… he wonder why he had paused. He was sure of it they didn't tell him everything. "Right this way," Said Captain Picard, they fallowed the Captain along with two Ensigns. Mark couldn't help to think how this compared to the movies…. "So, Captain, is there anything you beamed up with us?" Asked Christie as they were walking down a corridor towards the Turbo lift. "No, only what you have, deck nine," Said Picard and the Turbo lift started to move. "Any odd Metal like readings at our base or did anyone see a ring?" Continued Dr. Christie looking at the Captain. "Nothing of the sort, we are to rendezvous at Star base Two-fourteen," said Picard. As the Turbo lift doors open, they all stepped out. "This way," said Captain Picard and they walked down another corridor, and he stopped, as did the Ensigns. "Here are you Quarters, Welcome aboard, if you need anything ask the Computer." Said Picard and smiled. "Thank you Captain," Said both Mark and Christie as they headed inside to their quarters. As soon as the door slide closed as soon as they knew they were alone… Christie collapsed onto a chair. "What about Kevin and Amanda?! What will we do? Will anyone come?" She said, very upset… tears had already started to come down her cheeks. "Kevin will look after Amanda and everyone, we will do what we can until they send someone here. Our ships are faster…" Said Mark, as he walked over and kissed his wife, and hugged her.

"They're defiantly hiding something, I know it… As friendly as they seem," said Captain Picard, in the Observation Lounge. First Officer Madden, Lt. Commander La Forge, Lt. Commander Aurora Kathleen who was now Ship's Second Officer and Operations officer. Very little was known about Aurora, she had blonde hair, she was very young too. Pointed ears like a Vulcan but more human shaped… Very beautiful like an Angel… "Sir, I've checked there is no mention of the Tau'ri in any Federation records, nor do we see that symbol anywhere either," Said Aurora looking from Geordie to the Captain. "What about those energy readings? There's got to be something," Said Picard looking around at his senior officers. "The over load, seemed to be a power surge from whatever their power source was. However, I cannot see how that kind of surge destroyed most of what we saw, Sir. Aurora and I went over every inch… we found nothing unusual except for unknown readings of some kind of Metal… We agree that kind of metal was like a super conductor for the surge when it reached it, causing more of an overload… that and that big power reading was created by it after the first over load." Said La Forge. Picard thought for a moment, looking around. "What about their Health Doctor any---" "No, differences, Captain none at all." Said Dr. Crusher who was only assigned to the Enterprise for this mission only. "Aright," Picard looking around thinking hard. "La Forge, Aurora, see if you can find anything more. Dismissed." Said Captain Picard. Everyone stood up, and began to leave for the Bridge. "Are we on Schedule for the nearest starbase?" Asked Picard, as he sat down in the Captain's chair. "Yes, everything is on Schedule, Sir," said Aurora who was working on the sensors only raised her head to look around briefly.

"What are you looking for?" Asked Christie, looking at Mark as he was busy working this laptop thing on their desk. "I'm looking to see if we can match anything our stars, our symbols anything to not just Federation records.. They don't know we know a lot about them.." Mark paused looking at the screen, and began to speak again, "I'm sending it to their top notch History Institutes across Alpha Quadrant so---" "So we can find another Stargate… Move over you're going to need help," Said Christie. She smiled as she pulled up another chair, sitting in front of the laptop thing. "You're also going to need to relax, you missed a word there." Said Christie nudging Mark, with a little smile. "Yeah," Mark said tiredly as he smiled back and got up and walked over towards the Replicator… "After fighting the replicators and now eating and drinking from these things.. I'll pass." Said Mark and walked over and plopped himself onto the couch.

Five Hours Later

8:09 PM EDT

Cheyenne Mountain Complex

"Will they be alright?" Asked General Landry, who had just gotten back from two week's leave. He had been briefed on what had happened in the past Twenty-four hours, he was wondering how their kids were holding up, and they were in VIP rooms, sleeping. "What about the Odyssey?" Said General Landry, sipping a cup of coffee. "It's defenseless it has no shields at the moment. There was a set back," added Lt. Colonel Carter, who caught the look in General Landry's eyes. "So they're stuck there and we can't launch a rescue mission," Suddenly Landry paused and in a little lower voice, "If they're not dead," Finished Landry sitting down at his desk. He had left General O'Neill in Charge while he was gone, and started looking for a key to a drawer in his desk. Carter sat there thinking and looked up. "Sir, I keep hearing rumors out off Area 51 about this guy who use to work on the Atom Bomb and later for B2 and the F117… That he worked, on some big project, but didn't tell anyone privately. He died around 89' 88', he was very ill. I think it was Christie's cousin or Uncle," Said Carter. Everyone looked at Carter with an awkward silence. "So, you're saying that there are other spaceships on this planet?" Asked O'Neill confused, as just as much as everyone else was, maybe a bit more. "I don't know, sir. For all we know it could have been just new fighter craft. I mean what he did after he left is all Classified or unknown, completely." She added.

"Why did we have to tell the kids like that anyway? Kinda odd don't you think?" Asked O'Neill to Landry. "Because the Over-site committee asked to soften that area, of notifying families. If and when the Stargate Program goes public." Replied General Landry tired. "Is there anything else?" Asked Landry. Everyone shook their heads, "Then dismissed." Landry said relieved that there was a break.