Deck 1, Ready Room

“Have all the crew moves been finished?” said Kirby.

“Yes, sir,” said Allen. “Most weren't happy about it, but they understood your concerns.”

Kirby nodded. “I suspect you know there's another concern I have.”

“I do,” said Allen.

“Though you appear Human, you're still half Vulcan. I'm seriously thinking about you staying behind as well.”

Allen was standing before Captain Kirby and at his last words, Allen frowned. “Sir, my Human DNA is more dominant. I've never been able to do a mind meld. You don't need to worry about the blood dilithium affecting me.”

“Is your inability to mind meld physiological or because you never trained to do one?”

Roger paused several seconds. “I don't know, but leaving me here is a bad thing.”

“And why is that?”

“I'm your XO. I'm responsible to the crew and insuring your orders are followed. If you don't allow me to go on this mission, though the crew will understand your reasoning, I'll appear weak and lose a measure of respect. I can't do my job here under those circumstances.”

Kirby carefully considered this. “Lieutenant Commander. Roger.” His tone softened. “We've been together since our Raven. I look at you as more than my XO. You're a friend. However, I also need to make decisions that are best for the ship as a whole.”

“Sir, tell me the ship is better as a whole without me.”

“It's not.”

“Then the matter is settled,” said Allen. “Besides, if I'm affected by the dilithium, stun me and put me in stasis.”

Deck 2, Science Lab

“So this is where you've been hiding.”

“Hey, Lor, and I don't hide,” said Ohtani.

Doctor Weaver chuckled. It was fun picking on her friend, but Haia always seemed to take it in stride. Maybe it was because of her serious personality. It was like she was just a centimeter shy of getting the joke. Prodigy geniuses seemed to come with quirks.

“So, this is it, your new girl cave. I see Tucker is on your desk,” said Weaver. Tucker was Haia's favorite stuffed animal, a small, brown, teddy bear.

“I don't know what that means, but yes, this is obviously my new science lab,” said Ohtani.

“It's bigger and it looks like you have more cool stuff,” said Weaver.

Ohtani stared at Weaver. “Your powers of observation never cease to amaze.”

Weaver chuckled. Haia didn't usually pick back, so maybe that was a serious comment.

Deck 1, Ready Room

“You can count on being stunned if the blood dilithium affects you,” said Kirby. “You know I don't really want to do this without you.”

"Yes, sir, and I appreciate you looking out for me, but I'll be fine."

“All right, then I'll leave you to your duties,” said Kirby. “They're putting us eighteenth in line through the wormhole.”

“Then I better hurry. Thank you, Captain."

Deck 2, Science Lab

“What do you think of your new quarters?” said Weaver.

“It's nice.”

“What deck are you on?”

“Two, same as the lab,” said Ohtani.

“I'm on five, same as sickbay.”

“Our Ops people know what they're doing,” said Ohtani.

“We're three decks apart,” said Weaver. “I should be able to sleep without hearing you snore, though I feel sorry for the people in the rooms near you.”

Weaver ducked as Tucker whizzed past her head.

Deck 1, Ready Room

“You wanted to see me?” said Lori.

“Yes. Please sit. Do you want anything?” Kirby motioned to the replicator.

“No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

When the two were settled, Kirby sat without saying anything.

“Captain? Matt?”

Kirby sighed. “We’ve known each other six months. We were on a Raven together and now we’re on the Eagle. We don’t have a counselor, but I’ve always felt I could talk to you. You’re more than my CMO. I like to think of you as my friend.”

Lori smiled. “You’re my friend, too.”

A happy silence filled the room.

“So, I asked you here because I think I may have lost some friendships.”

“What happened?”

“Before we left, I was talking to some other captains. We were discussing the affects the blood dilithium has on telepaths. They’re all taking theirs to the Delta Quadrant, while ours stayed back home.”

“How did you lose friendships?” said Lori.

“I told them they were being irresponsible.”

“Ouch, ” said Lori.

“A captain is responsible to keep his crew safe. There’s still so much about the dilithium we don’t know. They’re not only putting their telepaths in danger, but the rest of their people. There’s also the Devore. It’s just one mission. The captains should have made the smart decision.”

Lori didn’t know what to say. Basically, Kirby was right, but if she was in that situation, she would have fought tooth and nail to not be left behind.

Deck 2, Mess Hall

“I can’t believe they did it to us again. A new quadrant to study and we’re back to making supply runs.” Haia angrily poked at her food.

“Wait a minute,” said Hok. “Are you telling me, with everything that was happening with the Romulan refugees and the peace talks, you weren’t in the middle of the action?”

“Nope,” said Nick. “We were a high-tech delivery service, though there was that one time we helped do repairs on a stranded freighter.”

“But we’re going to a scientific outpost. Maybe they’ll let you help,” said Hok.

Haia scowled. “These are civilian scientists looking to make names for themselves. They’re not going to share their discoveries with me. If they crack the blood dilithium mystery, they go down in the history books.”

“I understand,” said Hok, “but you never know. Maybe something will happen and you’ll be the one history remembers.”

Deck 1, Ready Room

“Matt, when it comes down to it, you’ve got to do what you think is right.”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m still the Raven guy. In their minds, I haven’t proven myself yet.”

“Well in my mind, you have,” said Lori. “You made a command decision to keep your people safe, and that’s what matters most.” She paused. “There is one question I have.”

“Commander Allen,” said Kirby.

“Commander Allen,” said Lori.

“Let’s just say he made a convincing argument to come.” Kirby left it at that.

Lori didn’t press the issue. She trusted her captain and her friend.

"We're dropping out of warp now, Captain, for final approach to Sefus IV," said the helm officer.

“Hail the facility,” said Kirby.

“Aye, sir,” said Hok at tactical. He tapped the console, sending the standard hail. “No response.”

“Try again.”

Silence.

“Still no response,” said Hok.

“Haia,” said Kirby.

“Scanning now,” said Haia. “That's odd.”

“Lieutenant?” said Kirby.

“There was a ship orbiting the planet, but it was there for less than a second.”

“A cloak?”

“No, sir. Cloaking takes several seconds as a ship fades from view,” said Haia. “With this, it was there, then it wasn't. I've never seen anything like it.”

“Helm, take us in carefully,” said Kirby.

“I recommend yellow alert,” said Roger.

“Agreed,” said Kirby.

“Going to yellow alert,” said Hok.

The Eagle moved forward, reaching the planet.

"We're in geosynchronous orbit over the science facility," said Helm.

"Hailing again," said Hok. "Still no response."

"Captain!" said Haia. "I did another scan. There are no life signs in the facility, there's no blood dilithium, and there are chroniton particles off the scale."

"Senior staff to the observation lounge," said Kirby. “Mister Hok, you have the conn.”

=====

“Sefus IV is class M, with no sentient life, though it has an extensive animal population,” said Haia. “An independent group of nine civilian scientists established a presence here to study the blood dilithium. A facility was built and supplied, with the funding coming from Milton Mining and Manufacturing. Since the planet is remote, no one else staked a claim.”

“You said your scans indicated there's no blood dilithium here,” said Roger.

“That's correct,” said Haia. “Since there are chronitons and no people, we have a mystery on our hands.”

“Are we looking at some sort of temporal event?” said Lori.

“That would be my initial opinion, but we would need to go to the facility to be certain,” said Haia.

“To be safe, I recommend taking a shuttle instead of using transporters," said Nick. ”I wouldn't want to beam down and end up one million years in the past."

“That's unlikely, but I agree about taking a shuttle,” said Haia.

“We need to investigate this,” said Kirby. “It's obvious something is going on down there. I want this to be volunteers only.”

Allen, Saunders, Weaver, and Ohtani all raised their hands.

“I see,” said Kirby with a chuckle. He knew they would all choose to go. It made him proud to be their commanding officer. “Ask Ensign Hok if he wants to go, too. This is his first mission, so he needs the experience.”

“Yes, sir,” said Roger. "Everyone grab your gear and meet in the shuttle bay in fifteen minutes.'

“Be careful,” said Kirby.

“Always, Captain,” said Roger.

As the senior staff filed out, Lori was the last to leave, her eyes saying to Kirby that she would be okay. Sitting alone in the observation lounge, he hoped she was right.

Lieutenant Commander Roger Allen paused to think about the assignments he gave while the away team was flying on the shuttle Eaglet 1 to the science facility on Sefus IV.  Chroniton particles were still being detected, but they had begun to dissipate.

“Since we have no idea what we’re going to find on the facility, no one goes off alone.  I can’t emphasize that enough,” said Roger.  “Hok and I will start searching the living quarters, while the three of you check the engineering, medical, and science sections in that order.  Hok and I will meet you when we’re finished.”

Roger knew his shipmates were capable, but maybe they should have brought another person from security.

“Sir?  Sir, are you all right?”

Roger looked at Ensign Hok.

“We’ve been standing here…”  Hok’s voice trailed off.

“I’m just thinking ahead, Mister Hok.  There’s a lot to do here.”  Roger didn’t want Hok to know he was questioning himself about an order he gave.  He couldn’t explain why, but something didn’t feel right.

“Yes, sir.”

Roger got the sense Hok didn’t believe him.

“The facility manifest lists nine scientists stationed here, but there are twenty personal quarters.  I’ll check the ten on the left and you take the right.  Report anything unusual,” said Roger.

“More unusual than chronitons and a missing crew?” said Hok.

“Yes.  Be careful.”

“I will, sir.”  Hok watched the XO open the door to the first room on the left.  Sighing, he started his search, too.

The first three were unoccupied, but someone lived in the fourth.  Taking more time, he looked in every room, but no one was there, with apparently nothing unusual about the place.  In the bedroom, he was about to leave, when he saw a small box on the night stand.  Suspecting what was inside, he opened it, finding a ring with a gold band and diamond.  It seemed one of the scientists was going to propose marriage to one of the others.  Closing it, he was about to put it back on the stand, but stopped midway.

Thoughts raced through Hok’s mind.  No one would know the ring was gone.  He could slip it into his pocket.  Done deal.  Profit gained.

Then his Starfleet training kicked in.  All those noble and selfless ideals were blaring at him to do the right thing.  Respect the owner of the ring.  If they couldn’t find the scientists, the family would want it.  He was being disgraceful just by considering taking it.

Despite the idealism that had been poured into him in four years at Starfleet Academy, he knew people were inherently out for themselves.  No one was any different.  Even the people that were called nice or good; because even though they did nice and good things, they did them for their own selfish reasons.  The only way to make it in this universe, the only way to be successful or have the good life, was to be out for yourself, and in doing that, a person had to play the game.  That game had rules, and the first Nagus had written them.  How stupid he was to think the Starfleet way was something better.

Everything Ferengi, everything he truly was and wanted to be, was telling him to take it, and to look for more.  The others were busy with their own tasks.  None of them knew what Hok was doing.

He stared longingly at the box, the reasons to take it, running through his head.

Instinct, plus opportunity, equals profit.  Greed is eternal.  Nothing is more important than your health… except for your money.  Never ask when you can take.  Take joy from profit, and profit from joy.  There are many paths to profit.  Even in the worst of times, someone turns a profit.  Not even dishonesty can tarnish the shine of profit.  The justification for profit, is profit.  A man is only worth the sum of his possessions.

The most important reason: a Ferengi without profit, is no Ferengi at all.

Hok opened the box again and slowly reached out and touched the ring, but quickly pulled back his hand.  Though he knew he was alone in the room, he looked behind him to make sure.  He touched the ring again.  Ah, it felt so good!  His mind raced.  His stomach churned.  He could barely breathe.

Closing his eyes and deep in thought, Hok made his choice.

Science Facility, Crew Quarters

Roger was waiting in the corridor for Hok, having finished searching his share of the crew rooms.  Not seeing the Ferengi security officer, Roger wondered if something was wrong.  He was about to tap his comm badge, when the door across from him opened.

“Mister Hok?”

“No one is here, sir.  All the rooms are deserted.”

Roger had the same result, which he expected, but something seemed off with Hok’s demeanor.

“Is something wrong, Commander?”

Hok appeared to notice how Roger was looking at him.  “No, we’re good.  Let’s find the others.”  As they started walking, Roger filed this away for later.

Science Lab

Roger was in awe at the size and complexity of the science section.  He knew a lot of people were studying the blood dilithium, but he didn’t realize the scope of the equipment needed.  Of course, there was the fact an orbital scan from the Eagle hadn’t detected any, so an obvious conclusion was this facility was for something else.  Ohtani was busy studying the room and Weaver was assisting, so he asked Saunders for his report.

“The engineering section was fully functioning when we got there, but there weren’t any people,” said Saunders.  “In a facility like this, the power source is generally automated anyway.  It just needs an occasional check to make sure things are running smoothly.  We didn’t find anything out of the ordinary.”

“How about medical?” said Roger.

“The same.  No one was there.  It has a stasis chamber, which we checked, but nothing.  It’s like the scientists were here, then they weren’t,” said Saunders.

“Just like the ship we detected in orbit when we first arrived,” said Roger.

“Yes, sir,” said Saunders.

“Thank you.”  Roger tracked down Weaver next.  “Doctor, when you were in the medical section, did you access the scientists’ records?”

“I tried, but they were encrypted.  Both Haia and Nick tried to crack it, but it was pretty complex.”

That was another layer to the mystery.  “Do you have any theories about what could be happening?”

Weaver glanced at Ohtani and shrugged.  “To me, unless there’s some new technology or invention, chronitons means somebody is messing with time travel.”

Roger frowned.  “Unfortunately, I’m forced to agree with you.”

Moving to Ohtani, Roger almost chuckled when he saw the expression on the science chief’s face.  She was like a little girl in a candy store allowed to buy anything she wanted.

“Sir, this is incredible!  I could spend days just studying what’s here and how it works.”  Ohtani was almost glowing.

“Do you have any idea what the scientists are doing or why they’re gone?”

“Not a clue, sir.”

“Lieutenant?”

“Everything is encrypted.  I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Can you figure out how to break it?” said Roger.

“Given enough time, I’m confident I can figure it out.”

“Do it.”  Roger stepped a few meters away and tapped his comm badge.  “Allen to Eagle.”

Science Facility, Crew Quarters

Roger was waiting in the corridor for Hok, having finished searching his share of the crew rooms.  Not seeing the Ferengi security officer, Roger wondered if something was wrong.  He was about to tap his comm badge, when the door across from him opened.

“Mister Hok?”  Roger’s mouth dropped open and he felt ice cold.

“What the hell just happened?”

Science Facility, Crew Quarters

“Mister Hok?”  Roger’s mouth dropped open and he felt ice cold.

“What the hell just happened?”

Hok looked around the corridor, just as bewildered.  “We jumped back in time,” he said, stating the obvious.

“We need to check on the others.”  Roger was moving as he spoke.

Science Lab

Racing into the lab, Roger rushed past Saunders, going directly to Ohtani.  “Did it happen to you?  Did you jump back in time?”

Ohtani looked at Roger as if his skin just turned blue.  “Sir?”

“Did you experience a temporal event?”  Roger was clearly agitated.

“Nothing happened here.  We examined the three sections, just as you ordered,” said Ohtani.

Roger heard the sound of a tricorder.  Looking behind him, Doc Weaver was doing a medical scan.

“Doctor?” said Roger.

Weaver scanned Hok, Saunders, Ohtani, followed by herself.

“Commander, there's an almost imperceptible chroniton signature in you and Ensign Hok.  I might have missed it if I wasn't looking for it,” said Weaver.  “The rest of us don't have it.  What did you experience?”

“We were all here.  Hok and I had finished checking the quarters and each of you gave me a report.  I was going to call the Eagle and update the captain, when Hok and I were back in the crew section.”

“There's definitely something happening here, but I need time to study the lab,” said Ohtani.

“But everything is encrypted.  You already told me that," said Roger, noticing her odd expression.  “Get to it and I'll notify the captain.”  He reached for his comm badge.

“No!  Wait!”

“Doctor?”

“Did you open a comm channel before you jumped back?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe that triggered it.”  Weaver looked at Ohtani.

“At this point, anything is possible,” said Ohtani with a shrug.  “I need time, sir.”

“Do what you can, but do it quickly,” said Roger.  “Until then, no one leaves this room and no one uses their comm.”

“I just hope the captain doesn't call us first,” said Saunders.

*****

“Sir, we're in.” said Saunders.

With the news, everyone gathered around.

“What did you find?” said Roger.

“Do you want the detailed scientific explanation or the quick and easy?” said Ohtani.

Roger almost rolled his eyes.  Though normally a patient person, this mission and the mystery they were trying to solve, was bothering him.  He was also concerned that Captain Kirby would be worried that they hadn't checked in for some time.  “Make it quick and easy.”

“The scientists were definitely experimenting with trying to create a stable time travel device.  The project is well funded and led by Doctor Paula Kendall.  I can tell you her resume, but suffice it to say, it's quite impressive.”

“Do you know what happened?” said Roger.

“From what we can tell, they were ready to test it on live subjects,” said Ohtani.  “Prior to that, they were using inorganic matter.  That platform there, the one that looks like transporter pads, is the temporal chamber."

“Why would they test it on all nine of them?” asked Weaver.

“They didn't,” said Saunders.  “Doctor Kendall was supposed to go alone.  We think there was an accident or something they miscalculated.  The temporal field engulfed everyone in the room.  The logs mention they were having issues with containing it, but they felt it was resolved.  You and Ensign Hok jumping back was probably a bleed over from that, though we can't explain why you were the only ones affected.”

Roger reflected on what that meant.  “So where did they go?”

“They didn't go anywhere, sir,” said Ohtani.  “They're here.  The question is when.”

At Starfleet Academy, Roger took all the available classes on time travel and temporal mechanics, but trying to figure out all the paradoxes still spun his brain.

“Can you calculate when they are and correct it?” said Roger.

“I appreciate your confidence in me, but understanding all this will take… ” Ohtani chuckled.  “Time.”

“I have a question, sir, if it's all right,” said Hok.

“Go ahead,” said Roger.

“The scientists knew we were coming.  Since there's no blood dilithium here and they were using studying it as cover, how were they going to keep us from figuring out what they were really doing?”

“They were using blood dilithium to fuel the device, which could explain why something went wrong” said Ohtani.

“Recommendations?” said Roger.

No one said anything.

“I need to contact the Eagle," said Roger.

The others moved nervously.

"I know it might be a risk, but Captain Kirby needs to know what's happening.  Hold your breath, everyone.”  Roger tapped his comm badge.

Captain Matt Kirby had been waiting patiently to hear from the away team, but more time had passed than he would have liked before the XO finally called.  Learning the scientists were messing with time travel was disconcerting, but it was a situation they had to handle.

“Do we know why they used blood dilithium?” said Kirby.

“Lieutenant Ohtani says they tried different sources, including protomatter, but nothing worked,” said Allen.  “According to Doctor Kendall's logs, when they first heard about blood dilithium, they couldn't build a facility here fast enough.”

“It seems that didn't work either,” said Kirby.

“In a sense it did,” said Allen.

Yes, in a sense it did, thought Kirby, but in what time were the scientists and were they damaging the time line?

“What do you recommend?” said Kirby.

“Ohtani and Saunders are still reading through the logs,” said Allen.

The Eagle shook as though struck by a wave of vibrations.

“Report!” said Kirby.

“Sir, we were struck by some sort of temporal wave,” said Tactical.

“Did we do a time jump?” said Kirby.

“Ohtani and Saunders are still reading through the logs,” said Allen.

Kirby felt like he was punched in the gut.  “Roger, we just got hit by a temporal force and jumped back in time several seconds.”

“Captain?” said Allen.

“If I may interrupt, sir.”

It was Ohtani.

“Go ahead, Lieutenant,” said Allen.

“Captain, the chroniton particles explain why Commander Allen, Ensign Hok, and now the Eagle went back in time, but...” said Ohtani.  “I'm scanning the facility…”

“Haia?” said Kirby.

“A temporal field formed and it's growing in size.”

Through the comm, Kirby could hear the tension in Ohtani's voice.

“What does that mean?” said Kirby.

“At some point soon, it's going to cause havoc in space-time,” said Ohtani.

“Haia, I'm a command officer, not a scientist.  What does it mean?”

“There are going to be pockets in time like rooms in a house.  You could be in the here and now, but move the ship a few hundred meters and be in a completely different time.”  Ohtani paused.  “That is if I'm correctly understanding this.”

Ohtani was a prodigy genius, so Kirby knew she understood.  “So what do we do now?”

“There's one more thing,” said Ohtani.

Kirby didn't like the sound of that.

“The field will engulf the planet and eventually spread throughout the system.  It will also keep going, affecting space-time as it expands.”

“And the ship?” said Kirby.

“I would recommend you back away so you're not caught inside the field.”

“Can you stop it?”

“No, sir.”

“Roger, get everyone back here now.”

Eagle, Deck 1, Observation Lounge

“Haia, are you sure you can't reverse the temporal effect?” said Kirby.

“If I study Doctor Kendall's notes long enough, I'll eventually figure it out, but at the rate the field is expanding, there just isn't enough time.”  Ohtani shrugged.  “I would also need blood dilithium to power the temporal reactor, but the science team used all they had.”

“Nick, could we use some of our regular dilithium?” said Kirby.

“I wouldn't want to try,” said Saunders.  “The science team already went that route.  The inorganic matter they used came back damaged.  We could end up making things worse.”

“I'm not liking where this is going,” said Kirby.

The room fell into an eerie silence.  It was like Kirby could reach out and touch the growing tension in the air.

“Doctor, will the chronitons have any effect on us after being exposed to them?”

“No, we'll be fine,” said Weaver.

More silence.

“Sir, I know this isn't what we came here to do, but our only option is to destroy the facility,” said Allen.

Kirby appreciated his XO saying that.  The burden, and consequences, were on him, but Allen was helping to carry it.

“Haia, are you absolutely sure there's nothing you can do?”

“I'm sure.”  Ohtani's voice was almost a whisper.

“What exactly do we need to do?” said Kirby.

Ohtani raised her brows while she calculated the math.  Tapping a PADD, she passed it to Kirby.  “Three quantum torpedoes at those coordinates.  It's a bit of an overkill, but we want to be certain.”

Kirby studied the information and handed it to Allen.  “Take this to the bridge and prepare tactical.”

Allen paused.  “Yes, sir.”  He got up and quickly left the lounge.

When the XO was gone, Kirby could feel the others looking at him, while trying not to look.  “Haia, once we do this, what will happen to the scientists?”

“There's really no way to say, since we don't know when they are.”

“Speculate.”

“Well, sir, if they're in the future, there will be a large crater where the facility was.  They'll be on a planet with only an extensive animal population. They'll have no survival resources unless they took something, which I doubt they did because only Doctor Kendall was supposed to travel through time.  It's possible someone could rescue them."

“And if they're in the past?”

“That's where it gets tricky,” said Ohtani.  “The facility would still exist and they would continue moving forward in that time line.  They might repeat the same mistake that caused all this, though it's more likely they would realize what they did, procure more blood dilithium, and keep trying."

“If the scientists are in the past,” said Weaver, “and we destroy the facility, once they reach now, wouldn't they be killed in the explosion?”

“I'd like to answer that,” said Saunders.

Kirby nodded.

“This is what we know.  A team of scientists are trying to develop a time travel device.  As a cover story, they said they're studying the blood dilithium.  They contacted Starfleet and asked for supplies and Command sent us.  They miscalculated something and got thrown to another time.  Since the last thing they want is for us to discover what they're actually doing, if they're in the past, they wouldn't reach out to Starfleet until they corrected their error.  The fact that we're here, means they called for supplies and we came."

“So they're not in the past?” asked Weaver.

“Correct,” said Saunders.

“That's a lot of speculation, but it makes sense,” said Kirby.  He sighed deeply.  “Is there really nothing else we can do besides destroying the facility?”  He had asked that several times already and he knew there was nothing, but it still bothered him.  Why didn't they have just a little more time?

“I'm sorry, sir, but no,” said Ohtani.  “The damage has been done and it's getting worse.”

“I need a drink,” muttered Weaver.

“I think we all do,” said Kirby.

Bridge

“I was about to call you,” said Allen.  “The field is expanding at a greater rate.  If we're going to do something, it needs…”

“Captain!”  Ohtani shouted from the main science station.  “A strong temporal wave is heading straight for us.”

“The urgency in her voice told Kirby everything he needed to know.  ”Fire quantum torpedoes!"

"Firing!" said Hok.

The temporal force slammed into the Eagle.

*****

"We're dropping out of warp now, Captain, for final approach to Sefus IV," said the helm officer.

“Hail the facility,” said Kirby.

“Aye, sir,” said Hok at tactical. He tapped the console, sending the standard hail. “No response.”

“Try again.”

Silence.

“Still no response,” said Hok.

“Haia,” said Kirby.

“Scanning now,” said Haia. “That's odd.”

“Lieutenant?” said Kirby.

“There was a ship orbiting the planet, but it was there for less than a second.”

“A cloak?”

“No, sir. Cloaking takes several seconds as a ship fades from view,” said Haia. “With this, it was there, then it wasn't. I've never seen anything like it.”

“Captain, there was an explosion on the planet,” said Hok.  He tapped the tactical board.  “It's the science facility.”

“Confirmed.  The facility was destroyed,” said Ohtani.

“What happened?” said Kirby in disbelief.

“There's a quantum torpedo signature.”  Ohtani frowned.  ”Sir, the torpedoes were Starfleet issue."

Kirby and Allen looked at each both, both bewildered at what just happened.

Bridge

“There's a quantum torpedo signature.”  Ohtani frowned.  ”Sir, the torpedoes were Starfleet issue."

After exchanging bewildering looks with Commander Allen, Kirby began processing what just happened.  “Is there anything left of the science facility?  Any chance there are survivors?”

“There's a large crater where the facility was,” said Hok.  “Initial analysis suggests whoever did this, fired the torpedoes with pinpoint accuracy.  It was like they intended to make sure nothing remained.”

“So no survivors.”

“No, sir.”

What the blazes was happening?  How did a routine supply run turn into a big mystery, a destroyed facility, and probably the loss of the nine scientists working there?

“Haia, I want to know what that ship was you detected.”

“I'll do my best, sir.”

“Nick, do what you can to help.”

“Yes, sir.  We'll get it done,” said Saunders.

While the crew worked, Kirby thought about possible explanations.  Was there a new Delta Quadrant threat previously unknown?

Silent time passed.

“Captain, we have an initial image,” said Saunders.  “We had to do some tinkering in the sensor records to find it.”

“On screen.”

A ship appeared, but it was out of focus.

“Enhancing image,” said Saunders.

Once the ship on the screen was clear, Kirby stood up and stared.  Stunned silence filled the bridge.  It was a Starfleet vessel, Diligent class, NCC-82715.  USS Eagle.

“What is this?” said Weaver, the obvious shock in her voice speaking for everyone on the bridge.

“I know this sounds crazy, but it's the Eagle,” said Saunders.

“Haia?” said Kirby.

“I did some deeper research into the sensor logs and I have an explanation, sir,” said Ohtani.

“Go on,” said Kirby.

“The other Eagle was orbiting above the science facility.  A temporal  wave was moving directly towards it.”

“A temporal wave?” said Kirby, interrupting.

“Yes, sir.  They fired torpedoes at the facility and were struck by the wave.  I don't know exactly what happened from their perspective, but I'd say there was a time jump and we're here seeing a future version of us.”

“Time travel.  I need a drink,” said Weaver.

“Something had to happen to make the captain…” said Allen.  “Excuse me, you, sir, order us to fire on the facility.”

Kirby knew the XO was probably right, but what could that possibly be?  He sighed deeply.  “Is there any way we can find out what happened?”

“I don't see how,” said Ohtani.  “If there was a time jump, and I'm certain there was, that time line doesn't exist anymore.”

“I definitely need a drink,” said Weaver.

“I think we all do,” said Kirby.

Deck 2, Mess Hall

“So we really did jump back in time,” said Hok.

“Yes and no,” said Haia.

Nick chuckled.

“What do you mean?” said Hok, confusion in his voice.

“We didn't jump back in time.  The other Eagle did.”

“Huh?” said Hok.

“We were sent to Sefus IV…” said Haia.

“So was the other Eagle,” said Hok.

“True, but our time line is intact.  The other Eagle's ended when they jumped back.”

“How did they jump back and become us when we just got to the planet?”  Hok's head was starting to hurt.

“They didn't become us.  They just….”

“Stop!" exclaimed Hok, his hands motioning for Haia to not say any more.  ”I'm going to explode if I keep thinking about it."

“It can be difficult to understand,” said Haia.

“I enjoyed the temporal mechanics classes at the Academy,” said Nick.  “It was fun trying to figure out the what ifs, whys, maybes, and especially the paradoxes.  Good memories.”  He smiled.

"Yeah, yeah.  If you go back in time and kill your grandfather, would you still exist?" said Hok.  “Silly debates.  There's no profit in it.”

“Maybe the scientists at the facility thought there was.  Imagine what might have happened if they perfected time travel,” said Haia.

“Maybe they almost did.  Maybe something went terribly wrong, which is why the captain felt he needed to fire on the facility,” said Nick.

That brought a heavy silence over the trio of friends.

“Did you see the captain's reaction after he realized what he did, er, what he did in the future, um, what he could have done?”  Hok rolled his eyes at the paradox.

“Yes,” said Haia.  “I could tell he felt like he killed the scientists.”

“But he didn't,” said Hok.

Haia started to say something, but Hok's very stern gaze, like daggers, stopped her.

“I watched him as he went to his ready room,” said Nick.  “He was his usual self, but I could see he was carrying the weight of it.”

Hok knew Captain Kirby didn't kill anyone.  Maybe in that other time line, but in the here and now, there was no blood on his hands.  However, Hok did understand feeling guilty.  Though his father and brother chose to work with the Orion Syndicate and he did not, he still felt guilt over their deaths and his moogie being in a coma.

“I think we shouldn't stay long at Sefus.  The sooner we get away from this place, the better it will be for the captain,” said Nick.

“Staying is the right thing to do," said Haia.  “If the scientists were pushed into the future, maybe they'll appear and we can rescue them.  While we're waiting, I think we should go to the surface and look around.  Maybe we'll discover something we missed.”

“Come on, Haia," said Nick with a frown.  “The situation is bad enough.”

“I'm a scientist, not a counselor.  If something big is happening, we need to try to find out what it is.”

“And maybe that's why the captain from the future destroyed the facility,” said Hok.  “Now it can't be abused.”

“Well whatever it is, it certainly won't end here,” said Nick.  “The Department of Temporal Investigations will look into it and the company sponsoring the scientists may have a lot to explain.”

“Do you suppose they'll talk to us?” said Hok.

“Maybe, but we don't know anything.  It will all be in the captain's report,” said Nick.

“I still wish we could try to learn more,” said Haia.

At that point, the conversation ended and the friends finished their meals in silence….

After ringing the ready room door chime several times and not receiving a response, Doctor Lori Weaver strode inside, pausing while the door closed behind her.

“Matt?”

The lighting was dimmed by at least half.  In the darkened office, Captain Matt Kirby stood silently in front of the window, the blue-green surface of Sefus IV clearly visible.

“Matt, are you okay?”

There was no response.  The silence in the room was heavy, almost like something one could reach out and touch.

“Have you ever thought about how different your life would be if you would have made different choices?”  Matt’s voice was flat and dull.  It was like he was speaking mechanically.

“Of course.  Everyone has.”

“Yes, everyone has, but not like this,” said Kirby.  “I’m living with the consequences of a decision I made in the future or technically never made, but still did.  How do you process that?”

Lori tried to think of something she could say to help.

“Matt…”

“Please don’t say it’s not my fault.  Even if we’re in a different time line, what happened down there is still from a decision I made.”

In the seven months Lori and Matt knew each other, they had become friends.  Close friends.  It wasn’t romantic, but they could share deepest thoughts and intimacies that couldn’t be shared with anyone else.  That was why it was breaking her heart to see him blame himself for the fate of the nine scientists.

Kirby turned away from the window, facing Lori for the first time.  Even in the low light, she could see the sorrow in his eyes.  It was similar to the bleariness of someone that hadn’t slept.

“Please sit,” said Kirby as he seated himself at his desk.

Instead of the chair across from him, Lori made herself comfortable on the couch on the opposite wall.  The room was small enough that it wasn’t awkward.  The lighting remained subdued.

“Thank you for coming to see me, but I’m fine,” said Kirby.  “Future me did what had to be done.  I’m certain of that because I had all of you there with me.”

Lori fully understood Matt’s feelings.  She had carried the grief and guilt of losing patients though she knew everything possible had been done to help.

“How long are we going to stay here?” said Lori.  “I get hoping the scientists will appear, but it probably won’t happen.  There’s no telling how far into the future they are.”

“I know, but we don’t have another assignment, so we’ll stay until we’re ordered to leave.”

Lori nodded.  “The crew is behind you.  No one blames you for any of this.”

“We’re hardest on ourselves,” said Kirby.

It was at that point Lori felt good inside that the captain was going to be okay.

“Haia wants to go to the surface.  She thinks she might discover something we missed from up here,” said Lori.

“You can’t complain about her enthusiasm, but we’ve already analyzed everything.  When we, when I fired on the facility, we made sure nothing was left.”

The door chime rang.

Lori was annoyed they were being interrupted.

“Come,” said Kirby.

The door opened and Roger Allen stepped inside.  He seemed surprised at the lower light setting.

“Sir, we just received orders,” said Roger.  “We’re to go to the Barzan wormhole.  We’re returning to the Alpha Quadrant.”

Feeling the sting of what that meant, Lori quickly looked at Matt.  If he was feeling it, he was hiding it well.

“Thank you, Rog.  Have helm plot a course and take us out of orbit.”

“Yes, sir,” said Allen.  “I’m sorry.”

Kirby nodded.

Once Allen was gone, Lori studied Matt.  They would have left eventually, but going so soon had to be a punch in the stomach.

“I’m fine, Lori.  Really.”

Lori got up and walked to the desk.  Squeezing Matt’s hand, she smiled.  “I know.”