Story Blurb: Lieutenant Commander Kannara from the U.S.S. Iroquois awaits the Enterprise on Starbase 74 in the outlying areas of explored space in the Alpha Quadrant. Her starship has been attempting to save a colony of humans who have a long and mysterious history in the depths of unexplored space. The Iroquois cannot save the colony alone, but the Enterprise must move quickly if there is any hope for rescue. Kannara is anxious to meet the infamous crew of Starfleet's flagship, but the real excitement is in the opportunity to meet someone she has admired for years - Lieutenant Commander Data.
This is a slow burn love and rescue mission sci-fi story - The smut comes later.
Chapter One
The large docking bay sounded a warning and began to open to the darkness of space. The field of energy preventing the bay's contents from being vacuumed into space glowed faintly as the vast hull of the U.S.S. Enterprise came into view. I watched, perplexed, as this state-of-the-art space vessel maneuvered carefully into the docking bay at Starbase 74.
The ship's saucer section showed some damage. Spots on the grey hull were darkened and scarred from phaser fire. Clearly, her time between visits to a starbase had meant some battles for the Galaxy-class ship and her crew.
The ship's warp engines cleared the bay, and she was slowly positioned to attach loading platforms to the left and right sides of the ship. There came another alarm as docking was complete, and the bay doors lowered silently back into place, sealing the bay off from the vastness outside.
I let out a sigh as I watched the silhouettes of human bodies begin moving through the platforms from the ship. For days I had anxiously awaited the Enterprise arrival, now it was time to meet Captain Picard and inform him of the situation on Kuppam IV.
***
"We have been watching this colony for six months, sir," I said, facing the powerful man who captained Starfleet's flagship. "They are in grave danger, but the Iroquois cannot stop the radiation. We need the Enterprise."
Jean-Luc Picard stared at me from the head of the conference table. I straightened my spin to make myself look more confident in my request.
"Mr. Data, how far away is the Kuppam system?" Picard asked.
The android looked away from everything, staring off to the side as his positronic brain worked through his memory banks.
"It is 14.454 lightyears from here, sir. At warp nine, it would take one week, four hours, seven minutes and..."
"Thank you, Mr. Data," said Picard, cutting the android off.
Data gave a nod and looked over at me. I felt that I was smiling at him and tried to gain control of my features and focus on the captain.
"Lieutenant Commander Kannara, that section of the Alpha Quadrant is mostly unexplored. I am surprised that the U.S.S Iroquois is that far into uncharted territory. It is an Ambassador-class starship and is nearing its retirement," said Picard.
"Yes, Captain. We were willing to spend the last few years aboard our ship helping the out-skirting colonies as much as we could. For some of us, that ship is the only home we know," I said.
Picard's firm features softened a little at my words.
"The Iroquois has spent a good 25 years in service. I'm certain there are members of her crew that grew up in her bows and became ranking officers of their own."
"Yes, sir. Including myself. I was born on that ship."
"Were you? And to have climbed into your rank as quickly as you have? That is impressive. You must have a fine captain."
"We wouldn't be here without him. And we will not be able to save those people on Kuppam IV without you."
Picard's mouth hardened back into the stoic look he seemed to always wear, and he thoughtfully paced around the conference table.
"These colonists are human, but they have no knowledge that they come from Earth?"
"No, sir. Their arrival to the planet is still a mystery, but we estimate that the colony arrived around 300 to 400 years ago. Long before we had warp drive technology. But they are certainly from Earth and have long since forgotten their mother world or how they got to the planet."
"How did you know the colony was out there?" asked Commander William Riker. His handsome eyes pierced through me, and I knew he could sense a lie as easily as the Betazoid at his side.
"It was not intentional. We were moving casually between star systems, seeing what kind of life we might find out there as we made our way to the next mission. One of the glories of nearing retirement is that we get the freedom to take a detour or two," I said.
"And that is when you found the colony and witnessed its star having its tantrum?" said Riker.
"Yes, sir. We knew there were lifeforms on the planet. We learned that they were human and quite primitive. They have long since lost the technology they left Earth with. They even lack electric lighting. We observed, obeying the prime directive, and were ready to move on. That's when their star started to show signs of a solar storm," I replied.
"Sir," Data chimed in. "I have accessed the Iroquois logs regarding the Kuppam system. The planet has several rings that periodically shower debris and radiation onto the planet. The atmosphere on Kuppam is heavier than Earth's, keeping it habitable. But it appears that the solar flares from the storm are blowing dangerous amounts of radiation from the rings onto the planet's surface."
I stared at the android. I was curious about this rare and complex individual.
"You accessed our logs? When? I am only just briefing you on this mission."
