![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
OPEN: Canon-Compliant
Scenario #1: Your Universe...
There is an old Russian saying: nothing in life is certain but death and taxes.
This is an outdated saying, of course, because the United Federation of Planets does not tax its citizens, so Lieutenant Pavel Andreievich Chekov much prefers his own version: Nothing is certain in life but death and Enterprise missions going horribly awry.
Today's proof: what began as a relatively simple negotiation on the Antaran homeworld has deteriorated rather rapidly. Because the universe is never satisfied with a single mishap, negotiations devolved into running away from angry Antarans mere moments before the Enterprise reported an oncoming ion storm. Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura had beamed safely aboard before electromagnetic interference from the storm had a chance to destabilize the transporter's lock-on.
Chekov, however, is not so fortunate.
The tingle and glow of the transporter's initial phase dissipates around him, torn apart by the rising wind. Chekov is fast, but the hostile Antarans are gaining rapidly.
"Scotty," he hisses into his crackling comm, "now would be good!"
He can almost make out Chief Engineer Scott's voice in the answering static. "...stay ... try--"
"Try harder, please!"
Perhaps Scotty hears him because, just as the Antarans come into view, the telltale glow of the transporter envelopes the Russian. It seems that death, inevitable though it is, won't be coming for him today.
He rethinks this once his surroundings solidify around him. Instead of the Enterprise's transporter room, he's in a wholly unfamiliar place. "Derr'mo..."
Scenario #2: ...Or Mine?
Starbase 17, operating under Starfleet but staffed largely by civilian scientists, is the Enterprise's first return to charted space since leaving on its five-year mission. It also happens to be located near a hotbed of anomalous subspace activity, the discovery of which had prompted the starbase's creation nearly a hundred years ago. Ruptures, distortions, fractures -- the space surrounding the outpost has it all and, more recently, the anomalies have been appearing in the base itself.
This was the primary reason for Captain Kirk's detour into Federation space: provide support for Starbase 17's scientists as they investigate the increased activity. Most of the Enterprise's crew is treating the stopover as a vacation, making the most of the starbase's (somewhat limited, as its design is old and less spacious than more modern bases) recreational facilities. For the science officers aboard, however, it is another mission.
Pavel Andreievich Chekov is not technically a science officer, but Commander Spock has recruited him regardless. "Being a well-rounded genius can be such a burden," he opines to the computer before him as he scans through the local scientists' most recent reports.
The computer does not respond. No one else does either; the local scientists have retired for the evening, and Commander Spock had seen no sense in sending more than one (extremely capable, thank you) officer to search the base's archives.
Chekov sighs and pushes away from the computer console. He loves his work and no one appreciates a good subspace anomaly like he does, but a drink and a conversation with someone who doesn't live on the Enterprise would be very welcome right now.
"I would at least like to see an anomaly for myself," the Russian tells the empty room.
As if in answer, the air on the other side of the room begins to crackle with an unusual energy. White-blue sparks spring into being and dance in mid-air, forming a thin horizontal line.
Chekov immediately reaches for his tricorder, only to remember that he didn't bring it with him. He grabs his holstered phaser instead. With the utmost caution -- anomalies can be very dangerous, and what can potentially come out of them can be more hazardous still -- the Russian approaches the growing anomaly.
There is an old Russian saying: nothing in life is certain but death and taxes.
This is an outdated saying, of course, because the United Federation of Planets does not tax its citizens, so Lieutenant Pavel Andreievich Chekov much prefers his own version: Nothing is certain in life but death and Enterprise missions going horribly awry.
Today's proof: what began as a relatively simple negotiation on the Antaran homeworld has deteriorated rather rapidly. Because the universe is never satisfied with a single mishap, negotiations devolved into running away from angry Antarans mere moments before the Enterprise reported an oncoming ion storm. Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura had beamed safely aboard before electromagnetic interference from the storm had a chance to destabilize the transporter's lock-on.
Chekov, however, is not so fortunate.
The tingle and glow of the transporter's initial phase dissipates around him, torn apart by the rising wind. Chekov is fast, but the hostile Antarans are gaining rapidly.
"Scotty," he hisses into his crackling comm, "now would be good!"
He can almost make out Chief Engineer Scott's voice in the answering static. "...stay ... try--"
"Try harder, please!"
Perhaps Scotty hears him because, just as the Antarans come into view, the telltale glow of the transporter envelopes the Russian. It seems that death, inevitable though it is, won't be coming for him today.
He rethinks this once his surroundings solidify around him. Instead of the Enterprise's transporter room, he's in a wholly unfamiliar place. "Derr'mo..."
Scenario #2: ...Or Mine?
Starbase 17, operating under Starfleet but staffed largely by civilian scientists, is the Enterprise's first return to charted space since leaving on its five-year mission. It also happens to be located near a hotbed of anomalous subspace activity, the discovery of which had prompted the starbase's creation nearly a hundred years ago. Ruptures, distortions, fractures -- the space surrounding the outpost has it all and, more recently, the anomalies have been appearing in the base itself.
This was the primary reason for Captain Kirk's detour into Federation space: provide support for Starbase 17's scientists as they investigate the increased activity. Most of the Enterprise's crew is treating the stopover as a vacation, making the most of the starbase's (somewhat limited, as its design is old and less spacious than more modern bases) recreational facilities. For the science officers aboard, however, it is another mission.
Pavel Andreievich Chekov is not technically a science officer, but Commander Spock has recruited him regardless. "Being a well-rounded genius can be such a burden," he opines to the computer before him as he scans through the local scientists' most recent reports.
The computer does not respond. No one else does either; the local scientists have retired for the evening, and Commander Spock had seen no sense in sending more than one (extremely capable, thank you) officer to search the base's archives.
Chekov sighs and pushes away from the computer console. He loves his work and no one appreciates a good subspace anomaly like he does, but a drink and a conversation with someone who doesn't live on the Enterprise would be very welcome right now.
"I would at least like to see an anomaly for myself," the Russian tells the empty room.
As if in answer, the air on the other side of the room begins to crackle with an unusual energy. White-blue sparks spring into being and dance in mid-air, forming a thin horizontal line.
Chekov immediately reaches for his tricorder, only to remember that he didn't bring it with him. He grabs his holstered phaser instead. With the utmost caution -- anomalies can be very dangerous, and what can potentially come out of them can be more hazardous still -- the Russian approaches the growing anomaly.