Tumock and Nige were sitting in the mess hall discussing the current situation. "And that is the strength of the Kelvan battle planet," Nige explained. Tumock sat back in his chair, he knew that the Federation was not ready for the attack, and more to the point, he knew that all the alterations he had made for the shields would give little help. Suddenly the red alert klaxon sounded.
[All hands to their stations.] Tumock and Nige stood up and exited the mess hall.
As the turbolift doors opened to reveal the bridge, Tumock was once again greeted by officers darting around the bridge. Tumock stepped out and took his post. "Is everyone ready?" asked Pike.
"All decks are standing by," replied captain Neil.
Pike opened the Comm line. "We are about to test the temporal technology, all unnecessary equipment is to be deactivated." Pike finished and then opened another channel. "Pike to engineering."
[Brock here.]
"Are you ready down there?"
[As ready as I'll ever be.]
Pike then looked up. "Helm, move us at half impulse power."
"Yes sir," replied Churok.
"Engineering, engage the temporal gate."
Tumock lifted his head to watch the procedure. Blue energy started to appear ahead and moved towards each other and stopped in the 'middle'. The energy then started to speed up and build up. Waves of energy then started to engulf the ship, causing it to shake. Then a bright flash appeared ahead, it died down to reveal a wormhole-like entrance. The Knight then entered. Inside the temporal gate there was a vortex-like effect circling the ship. Tumock stared in amazement when an alarm on his panel sounded. Tumock looked down and started to tap away.
"Vortex seems to be growing.... Another temporal signature has appeared off our port bow!" shouted Tumock above the noise.
Then another flash appeared to the starboard bow, leaving an alien vessel next to the Knight.
"The alien ship is weakening the temporal gate, I suggest we create a tachyon surge to slow down the rate of decay," added Tumock.
"Do it," replied Pike.
"It appears to be working.... There is a large temporal singularity in front of us, impact in eight seconds. Six... five... four... three... two...." A violent shake took over the ship, consoles began to blow out. Tumock stumbled and grabbed hold of the console, then everything stopped.
"Report!" called Pike.
"Checking current position," replied Churok "We're.... at Earth, date... November 23."
"Any sign of the Kelvan battle planet?" asked Pike.
"There is no sign of the battle planet in Federation space," replied Tumock.
"Then we're just in time," Pike said as he turned to Neil with a small smile.
"Commodore," Tumock called. "The alien ship is ahead and hailing us."
"On screen Lieutenant."
[This is the Han'gosian colony ship Katarina. Who are you?]
"I am Commodore Pike of the USS Knight. Did you say Han'gosian? And who may I ask is speaking?"
[Yes, my name is Ja'hal. Now, what is going on? Are you here to aid us against the Rey'nova? Is the battle over?]
"The Rey'nova, are they the ones who attacked you?" asked Pike
[Yes. Does this mean you weren't sent to help us? Then how did you find us?]
"We came across your technology after an incident with a race known as the Kelvans that threw us over a thousand light years from home. When we attempted to use it to get back, your ship appeared beside us."
[Then it sounds as though we are in your debt. Will you dine with us tonight?]
"My senior crew and I will beam aboard shortly," replied Pike. With that the channel closed.
Once Starfleet had been notified of everything that has happened and repair teams were under way, Pike, Tumock, Neil, Nige, Kira and Benson beamed aboard. In the Han'gosian transporter room they were greeted by three Han'gosian's, including Ja'hal.
"Welcome to the Katarina," said Ja'hal. "I am Captain of the Katarina and ambassador for the Han'gosian Empire." The Starfleet officers stepped off the pad. Tumock noticed one of the Han'gosian had some sort of weapon and was probably a guard. The other Han'gosian was female. Ja'hal noticed Tumock looking at the crew member and spoke again. "Oh yes. I am becoming forgetful. This is my head engineer, Andora."
"Pleased to meet you," added Andora.
"Well, shall we go?" asked Ja'hal, to which the group then walked off to have their meal.
After the meal, conversation started with Ja'hal.
"Our readings say that we are in sector 001, is that correct?" asked Ja'hal.
"It is, at Federation headquarters on a planet called Earth," replied Pike.
"And it is the year 2383?"
"Yes."
"Then the prolonged duration in the temporal gate did not affect us or the ship," said Ja'hal as he turned to Andora.
"May I ask why you stayed in the temporal gate?" asked Tumock.
"The Katarina is a colony ship equipped with all our latest technology. The idea was to make sure that we did not lose any technology in the war, and that there were enough people to ensure the continued existence of our people," replied Andora.
Ja'hal frowned. "And I am guessing that our government didn't just forget us, did they?"
"Unfortunately.... No, it appears the Rey'nova got the upper hand," replied Pike.
"Just what we feared." Ja'hal took a breath. "It started about a month before the initial attack, our sensors picked up energy fluctuations throughout our system. As time went by, more energy signatures appeared. After a few weeks a lot of sabotage was reported all over the planet. Then on the first day of the attack, a huge fleet appeared out of nowhere, they used something called... 'cloak'. They hailed us and told us to surrender, they told us that they knew everything about us, EVERYTHING. We sent our own fleet to respond, but it did little good, every shot did no damage to the Rey'nova ships, but their weapons cut through our shields with no problem at all, they had reconfigured their shields and weapons with stolen information. We were firing blanks. The fight went on all day and night, until the government accepted the fact that we could not win. They then quickly equipped the Katarina with everything we could from our culture and sent us in to the temporal gate. And to make sure the Rey'nova would not find the technology, they shifted the whole station to a different a layer of time. That is as much as I know".
"If the station was 'shifted' then how were we able to find it?" asked Tumock.
"The technology needs a neural processor to compensate for the huge amounts of information that need to be processed, over time it would degrade. Before that happens a back up program would shift it back into normal time," replied Andora.
"But you said it was shifted out of time," added Tumock.
"No, Ja'hal said it was shifted to a different layer of time, where time still passes."
"Well, now our life has been told, explain more to me these Kelvans," said Ja'hal, trying to hold back a tear of sorrow.
Pike then got into deep conversation with Ja'hal about our situation and the Kelvans. Tumock had also got into conversation, with Andora. Tumock was intrigued by the Han'gosian heavy reliability on temporal technology and asked for a tour. Andora started to guide Tumock around and to their engineering section. Tumock looked across a few panels and soon came to one with a weapons readout. Tumock stopped and examined it.
"What are 'Phase Torpedoes'?" asked Tumock.
"Phase Torpedoes phase out of 'normal' space a microsecond after leaving our launch tubes and then phase back into our space when only a few centimeters from their target, allowing them to pass through shields and objects, and are safe from being destroyed."
Tumock raised an eyebrow. "An ingenious invention."
"If you like that then you'll adore this." She led Tumock to another console. "This took our scientists years to perfect, it's an experimental temporal shielding, only on this ship. Originally we tried to phase entire ships, but when an energy signature passed through, things went wrong. Crew members and equipment would switch phase and some would disappear into time."
"Such a device would be extremely unwise to use," added Tumock.
"Exactly. We then realized that if we created a temporal layer 'around' the ship, then any weapons or other objects would phase out of time and miss the ship."
"Such a device would make its users near impossible to hit."
"Exactly," she smiled. "You catch on quick." She then looked at a console and frowned "It's a pity we didn't perfect it sooner." Tumock put his hand on her shoulder, and she wiped a tear from her eye. "What will happen to us now?"
"The Federation can grant you asylum and you could settle down on a planet.... if we survive the Kelvans."
She looked up at Tumock. "Don't let this happen to your people." She looked Tumock in the eyes. "I sense you have telepathic abilities."
"You sense?"
"Han'gosians are telepathic, but we never usually tell other races." She then placed a hand on Tumock's forehead and closed her eyes. Tumock started to experience a tingling sensation, then he started realize that he completely understood the temporal technology. Andora removed her hand. "It couldn't help us but it can help you." She took a breath. "This is the knowledge for our temporal shielding and our torpedoes."
"Are you allowed to just hand out this information?"
"You saved us from the temporal gate, your Federation will give us a home, we can keep this a secret.... at least until the Kelvans are gone."
[Pike to Tumock.]
"Tumock here."
[We are ready to leave when you are.]
"On my way." Tumock looked at Andora. "I must leave, I cannot thank you enough."
"Just stay alive, that will be my thanks." Tumock nodded and headed for the transporter room.
Back on the Knight Pike was sitting in his ready room when the door chime rang. "Enter," called Pike. Tumock walked in with a PADD.
"I have looked over recent information and see that my new shielding will not be sufficient against the Kelvans." Tumock then handed the PADD to Pike. "But this will stop the Kelvans. It's from the Han'gosians."
Pike looked over the PADD and then looked up at Tumock. "Good job Lieutenant. Take it to Ensign Benson for him to look at. If its all right with Benson and Starfleet, then we may use it."
"Ensign Benson, sir?
"Yes. Lieutenant Brock was injured during our time trip. Benson is running engineering for the time being."
"Yes sir."
"Well Lieutenant, dismissed."
Tumock started to head out but stopped and turned to Pike. "When this is over sir, may I present my new shielding to Starfleet?"
"Of course Lieutenant" Pike smiled. Tumock then turned and left.