A long time ago....
In 2285 all contact was lost with the USS Columbus, a Constellation class vessel sent on a deep space exploration mission to sector 441. Its last message said that it was about to explore a large nebula cluster, which we now know as the Briar Patch.
In 2375, the USS Enterprise-E, enroute from the Ba’ku homeworld to Starbase 127 for a replacement warp core, picked up a faint distress call and upon investigating further recovered a shuttle from the USS Columbus, containing the bodies of three crew and an unknown alien.
The Starfleet crew all died of starvation some eighty years previous, but the alien remained alive in a state of deep hibernation for that period. Analysis of the damaged shuttle logs showed that the USS Columbus had in fact continued to explore the space beyond the nebula for over ten years, until being attacked and destroyed by an unknown assailant.
The shuttle crew survived because they were on a long-range away mission when the attack happened. Once they found the wreck of the USS Columbus and realized that they could suffer the same fate, the crew packed the shuttle with enough rations to survive the trip back to Federation space and headed home.
Their misfortune was to be attacked by an unknown force, possibly the same aliens who attacked the Columbus. In an attempt to evade the attacking ships, the crew piloted the shuttle back into the Briar Patch, where it became ‘lodged’ in a gravitational eddy until the Enterprise-E re-discovered the shuttle again eighty years later.
Now ten years on from those events and almost a hundred years since all contact with the USS Columbus was lost, another ship is about to set out into the uncharted territory obtained from the Mullrans.
Present Day Earth 2384....
The sunlight felt good on Richard's face as he sat in the hallway of Star Fleet Command. The hallway to the Fleet Admiral's office was made of glass which allowed natural light in. The sun was bright but felt good for a change. It had been awhile since Richard had felt the earth's sun. To his right was Ross' aide's desk. A young male Lieutenant working hard. The Comm channel beeped.
[Lieutenant, tell Commodore Wallace I'd like to see him now.]
"Yes sir," the Lieutenant responded as he stood seeing that Commodore Wallace had overheard the comm traffic.
Richard walked into the office that was roughly the size of a Defiant class ship's bridge. In the rear, a view of Bay Bridge. The office was decorated with many trophies and souvenirs from Ross' career. Richard then looked towards the Admiral that greeted him with a warm smile and hand shake. Wallace returned the smile and hand shake.
"Take a seat Richard," Ross said pointing at a chair in front of his desk.
"Please sir, call me Dick," Richard said hoping it didn't sound too informal of a request.
"Sorry about your removal from Supply Base 901. I however assure you it was necessary," Ross said taking a seat and seeing Wallace's look of disapproval of his being removed from SB901.
"I want to share some information with you Commodore," Ross said pausing to make eye contact with Wallace.
"How many applicants do you think Star Fleet Academy gets every year?"
Wallace tried to think and was unsure and made an estimate from his class that he dropped out of. "Three hundred, sir?"
"On average, 345 applicants a year. This year alone 1,923." Ross handed Wallace a Padd.
"On average, about 1,600 men and women a year enlist in Star Fleet. Now we are looking at over 23,000 this year."
"Sir, I find this interesting but what has this to do with me?" Wallace was showing his impatience with command and waiting to find out his orders.
"Over eighty percent of those people have joined Star Fleet ranks as crewmen because of you. Those Officer Applicants -- the same thing. You have inspired the public unlike no other Commanding officer since Captain James T. Kirk." Ross gave a great big smile and leaned forward.
"So sir, you want me to head Star Fleet recruiting, I take it." Wallace knew his next assignment was going to be a waste of his time and skill. He wanted to be out exploring and doing what officers did, not telling kids lies to join Star Fleet.
"No! Since Vince Kelly is dead there is no immediate danger to the area around Supply Base 901. Because of your conflict you have increased Federation Territory immensely. According to Lieutenant Deveraux, Chief Science Officer of Supply Base 901, it will take 3-5 years to successfully chart and explore the region acquired in the cease fire.
And who better to give that assignment to then the man who captured it." Ross paused to let it sink into Richard's head.
Richard thought about it and it seemed almost unreal. "What?"
"You're to command the expedition. You will Command the USS Hornet. A state of the art Sovereign class starship. " Ross handed over a PADD containing the orders and information about the Hornet's status. Richard smiled as read the report.
"The ship will launch in five weeks. You can put together the crew. I hope this time around Dick, you'll be remembered more for your exploration then your combat record. Congratulations," Ross said shaking Wallace's hand.
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