C6. …Patterns Coalesce…

Captain O’va stood in the center of the bridge, eyes trained on the main viewer, with arms crossed, deep in thought. Ahead of them lie what was presumed to be Solvang’s Captain’s Yacht, the USS Lilypad – or more accurately some other multiverse’s Lilypad.

“Do you mind if I sit in your chair?” Captain O’va’s multiversal doppelgänger asked.

“No. Be my guest.”

“Thank you.” O’va lowered herself into the command chair. She found the chair’s cushion to be firm and unyielding. “I presume you have the same plan as I do for this?”

Captain O’va raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Indeed, I do. Which were you planning? One of the prototype Excelsiors, or B-24-CLN?”

“I think we both know the answer to that – without question, the latter.”

“Without question, indeed.” Captain O’va nodded in approval. That is yet another verification passed.

“Lieutenant Commander K’Rell, conduct an internal scan of the craft.”
Solvang’s Chief Science Officer, Lt.Cmdr. K’Rell, reported from the bridge’s science station. “Two life signs aboard, both in stable condition. Life support is functional. I am detecting the combadge signatures of Commander Miller, and Ensign Marick. Ensign Marick’s quantum signature…I detect a variance. It is different from that of the yacht.”
“But that is our doctor, correct?”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Commander Thorne, prepare Shuttle Bay Three to receive the yacht. Three should have enough space for a thorough analysis. Science and Security departments are at your disposal.”

Thorne nodded in agreement.
“Commander K’Rell, Commander Valerius, you’re with me. Valerius, I want a full security detail, with phasers trained on that yacht. Better to be safe than sorry. I’ll have to check the Operations roster and see if Lieutenant Kincaid is on duty right now. If she didn’t know already, things are about to become very strange.

Commander Thorne found Lieutenant Tiffany Kincaid in Shuttle Bay Three, making preparations to receive the mysterious shuttle. Thorne pulled her aside briefly to speak with her.
“Lieutenant, I need you for a moment.”
“Yes, Commander?”
“There are some things you need to know. On the bridge, we detected two combadges aboard – Doc Miller, and Ensign Marick. Theo’s combadge, they said there was a variance in the quantum signature. Same thing with the yacht – it’s not from this reality. I don’t know what we’ll find in that shuttle, but I wanted to make sure you don’t have any objections. I can schedule a replacement for you, if you need some time off. I know how close you are with Theo.”
“I appreciate your candor, Commander Thorne. I have no objections. Let’s just hope that whoever is inside can give us a lead on wherever Theo may be.”

There in Shuttle Bay Three, an anomaly – or rather a pair of anomalies – was being tractored into place. The USS Lilypad, the Captain’s Yacht of another multiverse’s Solvang, and within her, yet another multiverse’s Ensign Theo Marick.

Surrounding the mysterious shuttle was a full security detail,  led by Lieutenant Commander Valerius. With phaser rifles trained at high-ready, the team stands prepared for whatever may emerge from the shuttle, awaiting their orders. Valerius had a keen tactical mind, and unwavering dedication towards the training of his team. Their credo was “we do not train until we get it right, we train until we cannot get it wrong.” Even though it was not long since Solvang had left the Devron Fleet Yards, Valerius and his team had put in countless hours running skill drills to hone their own abilities, then running team-based exercises so that they may gain experience employing team-based tactics alongside one another. Such has been the key to success for tactical response teams for generations.

Positioned behind the security team was Lieutenant Commander K’Rell’s team of expert scientists, from varied disciplines that she and the Captain had personally handpicked – all up-and-coming scientists showing tremendous potential in their respected disciplines. The team had the brilliant idea to link their tricorders together to form a sensor grid, with the hope of amplifying the input gain to maximize the detection of even the faintest of signals.

Commander Marcus Thorne stood back, observing both teams. Both Valerius and K’Rell show so much potential in what they do. Each are so driven in their own endeavors. I love that burning passion in both of them. That is something I will be sure to nurture and encourage. Unfortunately, our Shakedown cruise was interrupted by all of this, but hopefully once this multiversal mess is squared away, we can get back on track. I see such a bright future for this crew. They are young, but their hearts burn bright.

As the shuttle was being lowered into place, Commander Thorne issued his final general orders; “Valerius, the moment that hatch opens, I want a clean perimeter.  We don’t know what’s inside – we don’t know if the nature of this Displaced yet.”

Valerius nodded sharply. “Aye, Commander.”

“K’Rell, your team has been briefed – we need as much information as we can get out of that shuttle and everything on board. You know what’s expected of you and your team.” Hm…she is not one to mess around…I think that’s what they call a mek’leth – hanging from her belt. Note to self, make sure I stay on her good side…let’s hope she has one!

K’Rell remained focused on the tricorder readings, but still was present, and acknowledged. “Aye, Commander.”

Lieutenant Tiffany Kincaid was manning the tractor beam controls herself. As the head of Solvang’s shuttle logistics, she had staff that could perform this task, however she wanted to see to it personally.

The shuttle touched down on the deckplates with a metallic groan – between the scoring on the hull and the flickering nacelle, she had clearly seen far better days. Tiffany drew a deep breath, and triggered the hatch’s opening sequence.

Commander Thorne watched as the hatch crept open. These yacht have the slowest hatches. They design these yachts for dignitaries; they love that slow hatch. I’ll have to have Chief Wu modify our shuttle’s hatch to be much faster. “Alright, showtime people, look alive!”

A white mist billowed out of the shuttle, and as the hatch opened upward, Doc Miller scrambled out. He looked like he had been through the wringer – his white hair was even wilder than usual, his medical coat was scorched, and he was clutching onto his medical tricorder for dear life.

“GREAT SCOTT! DON’T SHOOT! YOU’D NEVER BELIEVE ME IF I TOLD YOU!”

Commander Thorne let out a sigh of relief as he watched Doc Miller step out unharmed. The Doc was always this animated, but never this loud.

“Doc, give me a status report.”

Doc opened his mouth, about to reply, when Ensign Theo Marick stepped out of the smoke behind him.

The entire shuttle bay fell silent. Phaser rifles were lowered from high ready into action with blazing speed. Tricorders were whirring and beeping as the science team were furiously scanning.

“Woah, this is pretty heavy, Doc.” The young ensign was visibly rattled as he gazed around the shuttle bay. He looked, in every respect, like their Theodore Marick, except for his felten flesh. He had the look of someone who was crafted from felt and thread – every detail stitched and molded with the utmost care to give his textilian existence the most lifelike appearance possible.

To be continued…..