<USS Avalon> The Helping Hand of Destiny

The Helping Hand of Destiny
By Captain Keith Ketchum and Lieutenant Anthony Manson
 
K'len waited for a response as the familiar bleeps of the bridge sounded 
throughout the quiet room. The screen went up, and a man of what looked like 
Trill 
origins showed in the view. Trills in this time were an almost extinct race, 
having only less than a million left in the quadrant after the Battle of 
Trill. K'len looked at the man who clearly showed the pips of a Captain. As far 
as 
the reports had gone by, K'len was informed the Captain was a human. Maybe it 
was a discrepancy. 
 
"Captain, I am Captain K'len of the U.S.S. Octavius. My crew and I are ready 
to assist you." 
 
Anthony looked at her, and the only question that came to his head was- how 
do I handle this? Deceiving the enemy was one thing, trusting their lives with 
people of open hands ready to assist them was another. "This... hold on, we 
are in the midst of some things. Please, just make sure that ship out there is 
no longer a threat to us. We have our hands full if you haven't noticed." 
 
K'len nodded, "understood, but we must meet quickly Captain. Time is running 
out for you as it is for me." 
 
Anthony nodded but questioned inwardly exactly what she precisely meant by 
that response. He turned and walked to Keith. "Captain, the Captain of the 
other 
ship- the Octavius- has hailed us. She wishes to speak with you...I'm unsure 
about this." 
 
"Understood, Mr. Manson." Keith placed two extra pips on his collar for at 
least partial appearance. "Go ahead and route the call to a secure, private 
station." 
 
Anthony nodded as he routed the communication. 
 
Keith walked to a station that was out of the way, "This is Captain Keith 
Ketchum, at your service. Thank you for your support, but obviously it is not 
finished with the Tempest and the UCP. What can I do for you, Captain?" 
 
K'len's eyebrows raised her eyebrows at the unexpected change of identity. 
She shrugged it off hoping that this would be the last time the crew was 
playing 
charades. "Captain, the Alliance- compromised mainly of the Federation and 
the Klingons- are aware of your presence, we are here to help send you back 
into 
your own time. 
 
"As you have surmised, the Avalon- by historical records- disappeared five 
hundred of years ago. The Council have both unanimously come to a decision to 
help you against the Temporal Directive," K'len paused and then continued, 
"unfortunately, my actions against the UCP Tempest and violating the Treaty 
that 
hold our brittle peace has made us a target. Not only that, but once the 
Tempest 
restores their communications in...Four days or so, the Alliance will be 
plunged into another war. I ask you take our assistance, time is no longer on 
our 
side." 
 
"I am sorry to hear that, Captain. Perhaps there is a way to make sure that 
the peace does not get compromised. We shall do to them what they planned to do 
to us." Keith paused when he saw Anthony approach 
 
Anthony, still in his Captain's pips, came over to update the Keith on recent 
findings. The sight of the two Captains really peaked K'len's interests. 
"Captain... Captains..." her voice almost questioned. 
 
Keith was the first to answer, "It's a long story. But if you would wait a 
moment." He tapped the mute button, and turned to Anthony. "What have you got?" 
 
"Captain, I've run internal and external scans of the ship, it appears that 
there are bodies floating in space around us, and the ship appears to be back 
to normal Avalon crew, with the exception of about six of the Tempest crew, and 
that is counting the Lieutenant over there", referring to Lieutenant Lyryn 
Cate. 
 
"Very good, how did this happen?" 
 
"I think that the bridge was re-taken and they beamed them off the ship." 
 
"Can you get me in contact with the bridge?" 
 
"We have a couple of engineer's working on that currently." 
 
"Also have security round up the other Tempest crew and lock them away, until 
we can determine what to do with them." 
 
Keith turned back to the monitor and un-clicked the mute, "Sorry about that 
Captain, I was just getting briefed on the retaking of the Avalon. It would 
appear that the Tempest's threat might be neutralized, except for the 
destruction 
of the ship. Perhaps you'd like some prisoners to take back with you also." 
 
"That would be best. I plan to have the Tempest crew locked down here in the 
brigs. As for the ship, we’ll either have to tow it with us, or we destroy 
it. 
Do you require any assistance aside from the six left of the Tempest crew?"
 
"No, we have everything pretty much as it seems under control here. What are 
your plans?" Keith asked more precisely.
 
"If you permit, I would rather tell you in person with your senior staff- if 
possible- that way you all are aware." She then sighed a little. Keith’s 
curiosity peaked a little as the Vulcan had made a most atypical sign of their 
nature. "We have certain technologies that can send you back accurately. But as 
I 
said, if permissible, I would like to talk in person."
 
"Let us get our ship back in order first, Captain K’len, and then we will 
talk. I’d appreciate it as we are getting things in order that you deal with 
the 
Tempest now."
 
"How long would you require?"
 
"We’ll contact you." Keith replied, the Vulcan nodded her head slightly and 
clicked off.

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