STAR TREK - SCE - 04 - Interphase - Book 1

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INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and
incidents are products of the authors imagination or are used
fictiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, liv-ing
or dead, is entirely coincidental.
An Original Publication of POCKET BOOKS
POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
Copyright 2001 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
STAR TREK is a Registered Trademark of
Paramount Pictures.
This book is published by Pocket Books, a division of
Simon & Schuster, Inc., under exclusive license from
Paramount Pictures.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce
this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue
of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0-7434-2882-X
First Pocket Books E-Book edition February 2001
POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of
Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Visit us on the World Wide Web
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Nostrene could sense the tension permeating the
room, though he himself refused to display any out-ward
indications except that of perfect calm. His pos-ture
contrasted with that of his crew and the scientif-ic
advisors bustling about the command deck as they
made last-minute adjustments or ran final tests.
Consoles and viewscreens displayed a vast array of
data, each one dedicated to some facet of the monu-mental
experiment currently under way.
Holding at light speed minus three, reported the
subordinate manning the helm with no attempt to
hide the excitement in his voice. Nostrene could not
blame the younger officer, who was serving aboard
ship on his first assignment and was displaying much
1
CHAPTER
1
of the same excitability and enthusiasm he himself
had at that age.
Report current status, Dlyax. In response, one of
the scientists stationed near the front of the com-mand
deck turned to face Nostrene, the deep red hue
of his crystalline body reflecting the harsh illumina-tion
emitted from the deck plating.
Commander, the drive system appears to be func-tioning
normally. Our diagnostic scans show no
anomalies or irregularities. It is our consensus that
the test can proceed without further delay.
Of course they would think that, Nostrene mused.
Their reputations are being tested here today as much
as any new propulsion system.
Tholian ships had enjoyed success with their ability
to attack from positions of stealth and to utilize their
much feared energy web generators, draining the
power and crushing the hull of even the sturdiest
enemy vessel. But it had been Nostrenes experience
that ships controlled by enemies hed faced in past
battles had possessed definite advantages in speed.
While Tholian vessels had been able to travel faster
than light for generations, they never had been able to
achieve speeds comparable to those recorded by ships
of other races. The vessels most frequently under-scoring
this shortcoming, to Nostrenes chagrin,
belonged to the United Federation of Planets.
This concern had been brought to the forefront dur-2
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
ing the recent war between the Federation and the
Dominion. Alpha Quadrant forces had nearly suc-cumbed
to the might of the so-called Founders and
their legions of genetically engineered soldiers, the
JemHadar. The Assemblys tenuous state of peace
with the Federation had strengthened during the con-flict,
allowing the Tholian people to largely observe
the war. That position fit securely with the nonag-gression
pact they had established with the
Dominion. Though it had not been popular opinion to
state publicly at the time, Nostrene was certain that
Tholian forces would have fallen quickly to the vastly
superior strength exhibited by the Dominion.
Fortunately the war had ended, with the Founders
and the JemHadar being forced back into Gamma
Quadrant space before his suspicions could be tested.
Such concerns could soon be put to rest, however,
should the experiment they were conducting here
today prove successful. Tholian vessels would be
regarded as among the fastest in the Quadrant.
Additionally, the ability to channel newly harnessed
stores of power would lend additional strength to the
defenses and armament of their ships.
Satisfied with Dlyaxs report, Nostrene said, Very
well, resume acceleration.
As he gave the order, his eyes shifted from screens
displaying information transmitted by the ships net-work
of sensors to the command decks main
3
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
viewscreen. The stars as rendered by the computer
remained still, but he knew that in a few moments
they would twist and distort as their ship crossed the
threshold into subspace.
Light speed minus one, his helmsman called out,
and Nostrene braced himself for the impending quan-tum
shift. He knew it was an absurd notion, as the
ships inertial dampening systems prevented him or
anyone else on the ship from feeling the affects of
acceleration. But it was something he had always
done, almost instinctively, since childhood. It added
to the thrill, he thought. In his minds eye, he saw the
subspace field erupting into reality as the ship
stretched, extended and distended into infinity.
Plus one, the helmsman said. Continuing to
accelerate. Except for the subordinates reports of
the ships progress, all else was silent on the com-mand
deck as engineers and scientists continued
checking the telemetry fed to them by the ships sen-sors.
This was the easy part, in actuality, with the dif-ficult
tasks yet to come. First the ship had to acceler-ate
successfully to its uppermost obtainable velocity.
Then endurance tests would begin as the crew deter-mined
how long the ship could sustain that measure
of speed. If those experiments were successful, then
the celebrations would begin in earnest, and merely
wary adversaries would now have reason to fear the
Tholian Assembly.
4
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
Nostrenes reverie was broken by the first in what
quickly became a series of alarms coming from the
observation stations at the front of the command
deck.
Commander, Dlyax said, we are experiencing a
power fall-off.
Moving toward the forward stations, Nostrene
replied, What is causing it?
The scientist was keying commands into his con-sole
and studying the rapidly shifting patterns of light
on his suite of monitors. I cannot ascertain the
cause. All systems are functioning normally, but there
is an unexplained power drain in the drive system.
For a moment, Nostrene was worried that the ship
might be rendered inert in space. How serious is this
drain?
It is not severe, Commander, but it is enough to
disrupt our subspace field.
Given the choice between slowing to sublight
speeds on his own or being ripped from subspace by
a malfunctioning propulsion system, Nostrene pre-ferred
the first option. Decelerate to light minus
eight. Turning back to Dlyax, he said, Initiate a diag-nostic
check of the drive systems.
Another voice called out from behind him,
Commander, our sensors are registering some
unusual readings.
Now what? Was the entire ship falling apart?
5
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
What is it? he asked as he made his way to the
sensor officers station.
The subordinate manning the station did not look
up at his commanders approach. I have detected a
disruption in space at bearing four point nine relative
to our current position. It wasnt there during my ini-tial
scans a few moments ago, Commander.
The report was far too vague for Nostrenes tastes.
Be more specific.
I cannot, Commander. The sensors are behaving
quite erratically. They report it as an object, yet I can-not
verify the readings.
If an object had been detected so close to the ship,
Nostrene knew that automated defensive systems
would have alerted the crew to possible danger. That
none of that had happened deepened his concern.
Was an enemy who could render themselves invisible
to sensors attacking them? Was a Romulan ship out
there, attempting a covert strike?
Is there a flaw in the sensor equipment? Nostrene
asked.
Not that I have been able to find, Commander, the
sensor officer replied. It is as if this region of space
is physically deteriorating.
A localized phenomenon? There were no intelli-gence
reports of anything unusual encountered in
this area. It was a lightly traveled region, one of the
reasons it was selected as the site of the experiment in
6
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
the first place.
Put that area on the main screen, he ordered.
All eyes turned as the image on the forward screen
changed. At first Nostrene saw no discernible differ-ence
from the field of stars that had been there previ-ously.
It appeared tranquil, almost the very image he
carried in his mind even when he was planetbound to
tide him over until he could return to space once
again.
There, the helmsman said, pointing at the screen.
Upper left quadrant.
Nostrene saw it too. Amid the blanket of stars beck-oning
to them, a dark area had appeared. It was small
but opaque, and therefore contrasting sharply against
the starfield.
Magnify that area, Nostrene said, stepping closer
to the screen. The image shifted again and now the
dark area dominated the center of the screen. It was
irregular in shape, its edges fluctuating with no
noticeable pattern. Everyone on the command deck
watched as the patch of darkness expanded, then con-tracted
to almost disappear entirely before repeating
the process all over again.
It looks like a hole in space, the helmsman said.
Nostrene agreed. In all the years he had traveled
space he had never seen anything like what was dis-played
on the screen.
I am detecting spiking radiation levels coming
7
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
from that area, Commander, the sensor officer
reported. They are slight, but there nonetheless.
Is there a danger to the ship? Nostrene asked.
The subordinate took an extra moment to confirm
his readings before replying. Negative, Commander,
at least so long as we maintain this distance.
Commander!
Nostrenes attention snapped back to the screen at
the call in time to see the interior of the hole, as he
had come to think of it, shift as a blue-green field of
energy appeared.
Enlarge that, Nostrene ordered, and the image
appeared to jump forward. The energy distortion
became more detailed and he could see static dis-charges
and rippling effects as the field undulated
within the confines of the dark area.
Are you saying the sensors register none of that?
he asked.
That is correct, Commander. We see it, but our sen-sors
give no indication that it exists at all.
In front of him, the helmsman nearly came out of
his chair as he pointed to the screen. Commander,
look!
On the viewer, the energy field wavered and expand-ed
violently as, out of the nothingness that was the
dark hole amid the stars, an object began to material-ize,
quickly taking on form and substance. With the
image magnified as it was, Nostrene easily made out
8
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
seams between scarred hull plates and areas where
bare metal now shone through what had once been a
brightly painted finish.
A ship.
Sensor readings?
Behind him, the sensor officer studied his console
and shook his head. I have managed to tune the sen-sors
to at least detect the vessel, but readings are
inconclusive at best. There are no signs of life or
power sources. I believe the ship to be a derelict,
Commander.
Nostrene suspected as much, having already recog-nized
the design of the ship as soon as it had become
visible. He hadnt seen such a vessel except in histori-cal
documents, but there was no mistaking the large,
saucer-shaped hull supported by a pylon above a
smaller cylindrical secondary section and the pair of
long nacelles resting on their own support pylons.
Though the design had been refined and improved
over the many years the Tholians had been aware of
it, the basic tenets had remained the same.
Behind him, his weapons officer confirmed his sus-picion.
Commander, our tactical database identifies
it as a Federation Constitution-class starship.
According to our information, that model of vessel
was retired from active service long ago.
Are there any indications of other ships in this
area? Both the weapons and sensor officers replied
9
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
with negative reports.
So what is it doing in our space? Dlyax asked,
staring at the ghostly image of the ship.
Nostrene had no answer. Learning of the ships
presence in Tholian space would certainly put some
government officials on edge. Despite the warming of
relations with the Federation, distrust and even con-tempt
for its principles continued to simmer within
the ranks of the Assemblys elder statesmen.
Seeing the ship on the screen, however, his instincts
told him such worries were unfounded. If the ship
was indeed a derelict, then it was likely that neither
the Federation nor the Assembly had any knowledge
of its whereabouts, let alone the circumstances sur-rounding
its appearance here and now, long after
such a vessel would have been retired from normal
service.
Such judgments, though, were not his to make.
We must report this discovery, he said finally.
They will know best how to proceed.
10
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
As he traversed one of the numerous corridors of
Starfleet Headquarters, Captain Montgomery Scott
felt as though red-alert klaxons were sounding but
only he could hear them. His eyes couldnt help but be
drawn to officers mingling or casually going about
their business. He returned a few polite nods but
didnt stop to talk or even smile back when their
glances met his. There was no time for niceties.
It was a key difference between Headquarters and
serving on a starship, he had learned. People here
could be on full alert, but hardly ever at the same
time.
His commbadge chirped for his attention, followed
by a female voice. Captain Scott, please report to
11
CHAPTER
2
Briefing Room 23 immediately.
Aye, lassie, he said as he tapped the badge, and
since we last spoke, where did ya think I might be
goin?
The question went unanswered. Ill tell them youre
still on your way, sir.
Scott out. He sighed as he severed the connection.
Whatever it was that awaited him in Briefing Room
23 must be important indeed to have his assistant
page him twice in as many minutes.
Probably some politician with his nose all out of
joint.
Scotty didnt break stride as he turned toward a pair
of doors that parted at his approach. As he entered
the briefing room, the first person he saw was a man
wearing civilian clothes and the puckered expression
he normally associated with a typical Federation
diplomat.
Ach. Some days it just doesnt pay to get out of bed,
he thought as he braced himself for what was sure to
be a long day. As he made his way to one of the empty
chairs surrounding the conference table, Scotty put
on his admirals smile. It was the one that allowed
him to bite the inside of his cheek when a politician
inevitably said something to irritate him.
In addition to the civilian eyeing him impatiently,
Scotty noted the unfamiliar Starfleet commander also
seated at the table. An Andorian, the commanders
12
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
rich blue skin contrasted sharply with the dark colors
of his uniform. Scotty decided that the commander,
like a growing number of officers he ran into these
days, looked like hed just graduated from the
Academy.
Does his mother know hes playin Starfleet?
As quickly as the thought surfaced, Scotty admon-ished
himself. Not everyone could be an eighty-year
old captain with fifty or more years in Starfleet, after
all.
Good morning, Captain. Thanks for joining us on
such short notice, said the third person in the brief-ing
room and the only one Scotty recognized, Admiral
William Ross.
The admiral presented an imposing figure dressed
in his dark Starfleet uniform. Jet black hair, cut short
and liberally speckled with gray, added to a severe
expression dominated by piercing blue eyes. Ross was
one of the few flag officers Scotty respected implicit-ly,
due primarily to the fact that the admiral had risen
through the ranks while serving in the fleet instead of
occupying staff positions. He had commanded vessels
and people in peace and in war, and he had earned the
trust of those he led.
Ross also knew that most issues faced by com-manders
in the field rarely if ever resembled the tidy
tactical problems presented to cadets at the Academy.
It gave him a wisdom shaped by experience that
13
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
Scotty usually found lacking in other officers in simi-lar
positions. It also made Ross in high demand at
Starfleet Headquarters, especially during critical situ-ations.
If the admiral was here now, then something
big had to be brewing.
Aye, Admiral, Scotty said as he settled into one of
the conference chairs. What have ye got?
We have a developing situation that requires not
only your departments expertise, but your own as
well.
Ross indicated the Andorian and the civilian. This
is Commander Grelin, our liaison with Starfleet
Intelligence, and this is Mr. Marshall of the
Diplomatic Corps.
Considering the presence of Grelin and Marshall,
Scotty hardly believed whatever was happening was
going to be a routine matter for the Starfleet Corps of
Engineers, the department he had been appointed to
oversee by Ross himself.
The assignment had come as part thoughtful ges-ture
and part impassioned plea, with the admiral see-ing
a singular opportunity to take advantage of
Scottys vast experience and unique perspective. After
all, how many other officers could lay claim to having
served aboard Starfleet vessels more than a century
ago?
After his rescue almost eight years before from
the wreck of the U.S.S. Jenolen, where he had been
14
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
suspended in a transporter beam for seventy-five
years, Scotty had flirted with self-pity at being
removed from his friends and loved ones by nearly
a century. It hadnt taken him long, however, to
embrace this new era and all the challenges it pre-sented.
The offer from Ross had come soon after-ward,
but Scotty really hadnt needed an invitation
to return to Starfleet. In his heart, he had never
truly left.
Ross said, Captain, Starfleet was contacted earlier
this morning by representatives of the Tholian
Assembly. They reported the presence of what
appears to be a derelict Federation starship within
their territorial borders. I dont think I need to tell you
how upset the Tholians are.
It was an understatement, Scotty knew. The
Tholians had always been protective of their region of
space, only rarely allowing foreign vessels to cross
their boundaries. Relations between the Assembly
and the Federation had improved in recent years, but
they were still nowhere near what Scotty would call
stable.
This is of great concern to us, Marshall said,
insinuating himself into the conversation in that
manner all diplomats seemed to employ and which
almost always annoyed Scotty to no end. Just seeing
one of our ships in their space is enough for the
Tholians to declare all-out war.
15
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
I dont think the situation is that extreme, Mr.
Marshall, Ross countered. One of the few good
things that came out of the Dominion War was better
diplomatic relations with the Tholians. He didnt
bother to shield the skeptical look on his face as he
added, At least, thats what we keep heari ng from the
Diplomatic Corps.
Those relations came at a very high price,
Admiral, Marshall said, bristling at Rosss jab. We
intend to cultivate them, not jeopardize the peace
every time one of your captains steers a ship where its
not supposed to go.
Ross didnt rise to the baiting. Sir, Starfleet has not
authorized any vessel to enter Tholian space. This
incident was a complete surprise to us, just as it
should have been. The ship in question hasnt seen
active duty since stardate 5685.5.
The date struck Scotty with the intensity of a phys-ical
blow. All of the puzzle pieces fell into place as the
completed picture became clear to the seasoned engi-neer.
The Defiant, he said, his voice almost a whisper.
Thats impossible, Grelin blurted, his antennae
twitching noticeably in alarm. The Defiant is cur-rently
docked at Deep Space Nine. They couldnt pos-sibly
have traveled to Tholian space in such a-
Laddie, Scotty said, cutting the Andorian off, did
they stop teaching history at the Academy altogether,
16
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
or are ye just too accustomed to hearin five-digit
stardates? He turned to Ross. Now I know why Im
here, sir.
Ross couldnt suppress a smile. Gentlemen, in
2268 the Constitution-class U.S.S. Defiant was lost
with all hands when it traveled into an interspatial
rift in an area of space subsequently claimed as a ter-ritorial
annex of the Tholian Assembly. According to
the Tholians, the rift reopened two weeks ago, and
the Defiant has been scanned drifting in and out of it
nine times since its initial reappearance. The average
duration of its visibility is three hours and twelve
minutes, though the intervals are by no means con-sistent.
In more than a century, just one Federation star-ship
has encountered the Defiant since her disappear-ance.
That ship had the only opportunity to learn
what happened to the ship and her crew. Ross indi-cated
Scotty with a gesture. Were just lucky enough
to have a member of that ships crew with us today.
Steely blue eyes fixed on the engineer.
Scotty, do you want another crack at her?
The Defiant. It was one of many memorable mis-sions
Scotty had been a part of as a crewmember of
the original Enterprise. It also was one of a handful of
mysteries theyd encountered that remained
unsolved. Leaving the Defiant locked in the spatial rift
had never set well with him. The vessel numbered
17
INTERPHASE BOOK ONE
among the original Constitution-class starships, and
it was one of two such vessels that Scotty had seen
lost or destroyed during his tenure aboard the
Enterprise.
Three, counting the ol girl herself, Scotty reminded
himself.
Constitution-class ships held a special place in his
heart, as such a vessel was where Scotty had served
摘要：

INTERPHASEBOOKONEDaytonWard&KevinDilmoreThisbookisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,placesandincidentsareproductsoftheauthorsimaginationorareusedfictiously.Anyresemblancetoactualeventsorlocalesorpersons,liv-ingordead,isentirelycoincidental.AnOriginalPublicationofPOCKETBOOKSPOCKETBOOKS,adivisionofSimon...

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