TITLE: Roadside Assistance
AUTHOR: MikeJaffa
SYNOPSIS: Answer to “Treknology Fails” Challenge and a missing scene from “Phantasms:” While the Enterprise-D is adrift, friends of Picard offer assistance.
DISCLAIMER: Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Lower Decks are owned by Paramount. I am making no money off this fic.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Although it may not fit the challenge perfectly, I have had this idea for a “Lower Decks Prequel” scene for a while, and I knew I could dash it off fast.
8
8
8
8
Riker’s voice came over the speaker in the turbolift car: “Captain Picard to the bridge, please.”
Picard said, “I’m almost there, Number One.”
The car stopped and the door opened to the portside aft stations.
“What is it, Number One--” Picard started to say as started down the ramp and broke off. A *New York* class starship, roughly the same vintage as the Miranda class but with an oversized engineering section enlarged nacelles, was in the middle of the screen. The ships were usually used for second contacts and resupplying bases and outposts, but they were also capable of towing the *Enterprise-D* at warp speed.
As Picard came to stand next to Riker, Riker said, “The USS *Oswego,* Captain. She dropped out of warp and began her approach a few minutes ago.”
Picard grunted. The engine failures were bad enough. It was delaying his arrival at the annual admirals’ banquet Picard had no choice but to attend even if he didn’t want to go. He couldn’t refuse the invitation without a very good reason.
But then Data had turned antisocial. He’d attacked Counselor Troi in a turbolift. After being arrested, Data reported he had been having nightmares. And now Admiral Nakamura, who had been skeptical of the *Enterprise’s* engine failures, seemed to be prepared to have the *Enterprise* dragged to the banquet if necessary. Not how Picard wanted to arrive if he could help it.
Worf said, “We are being hailed, Captain.”
“On screen, Mr. Worf.”
A moment later, the view changed to the *Oswego’s* bridge and the occupants of its twin command chairs, Captain Alonzo Freeman and his wife and first office, Commander Carol Freeman.
Picard smiled and said, “Alonzo. Carol. Good to see you. What can we do for you?”
Alonzo said, “It’s more what we can do for you, Jean-Luc. We were in the system, and we received word from Starbase 219 that you might have some engine trouble. We understand you have to make it to an…important function.” Alonzo wouldn’t want to go to the admirals’ banquet anymore than Picard did, but orders were orders.
Picard held his smile. “Yes, Alonzo, we are having a spot of engine trouble. But Mr. LaForge has the matter in hand. We will be underway soon.”
“Well, Jean-Luc, we’ve been asked to look at a solar weather satellite near the system’s star’s corona. If you need help, we’ll be all too happy to lend a hand.”
“I appreciate the offer, Alonzo. Thank you. We won’t keep you any longer. Picard out.” The screen returned to the view of the *Oswego.* She turned and headed away under impulse.
Riker said, “It would seem Admiral Nakamura is calling our bluff.”
“If only it were a bluff,” Picard said. “I may not want to go to the admirals’ banquet, Will, but I’m not that recalcitrant.”
“Where’s a Romulan plot when you need one?”
“Mmm.”
8
8
It wasn’t long before the major events of the day came together: Data had had nightmares because he was “subconsciously” aware of interphasic aliens feeding on the crews’ cellular peptides. Geordie adjusted Dat’s positronic subprocessors to emit an interphasic pulse that destroyed the creatures.
Picard went to engineering where Geordie explained how an interphasic manufacturing technique used to make one of the new plasma conduits, and that had attracted the creatures. Picard asked how long it would take to get the ship underway, and Geordi said it would take 6 hours to manufacture a replacement conduit. When Picard pointed out the admirals’ banquet would be over by then, Geordi offered to speed up the work. Picard said he didn’t want Geordie to endanger the ship in the most unconvincing way possible. But Geordie got it and said, “Understood, sir.”
Picard had just started down the corridor when Worf’s voice came over the speakers: “Captain, we are being hailed by the *Oswego.*”
“Pipe it down here, Lieutenant,” Picard said, stopping in his tracks to face a wall panel.
A section lit to show the Freemans on the bridge of their ship. They looked more tired than Picard would have expected.
Alonzo Freeman said, “Jean-Luc. How are your engineering repairs going?”
“We’re making progress,” Picard said. “We will have warp power back in six hours.”
“Six hours,” Alonzo said. “The banquet will be over by then. Do you want any assistance?”
“No, no thank you. I don’t want to endanger the *Enterprise* or inconvenience you.”
“I understand,” Alonzo said knowingly. “Oh—we just got a letter from Beckett. She says Boothby did a good job training her for the martial arts tournament tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? I thought it was next week.”
“Right—next week. Sorry, things have been…busy. But we have to put in at Starbase 84 anyway. Smooth sailing, Picard. Freeman out.” The panel section blanked and then returned to a menu.
Picard turned and saw Riker coming towards him.
Picard said, “You just missed Captain Freeman. He’s not going to give us a tow. And he asked an odd question. But I suppose that satellite was a bigger problem than they thought.”
“Or it wasn’t the satellite, Captain. I just got word from Temporal Investigations. They want our logs for the past 72 hours.”
“Indeed? You know, Number One, it may be that we actually had a quiet day by default.”
THE END
AUTHOR: MikeJaffa
SYNOPSIS: Answer to “Treknology Fails” Challenge and a missing scene from “Phantasms:” While the Enterprise-D is adrift, friends of Picard offer assistance.
DISCLAIMER: Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Lower Decks are owned by Paramount. I am making no money off this fic.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Although it may not fit the challenge perfectly, I have had this idea for a “Lower Decks Prequel” scene for a while, and I knew I could dash it off fast.
8
8
8
8
Riker’s voice came over the speaker in the turbolift car: “Captain Picard to the bridge, please.”
Picard said, “I’m almost there, Number One.”
The car stopped and the door opened to the portside aft stations.
“What is it, Number One--” Picard started to say as started down the ramp and broke off. A *New York* class starship, roughly the same vintage as the Miranda class but with an oversized engineering section enlarged nacelles, was in the middle of the screen. The ships were usually used for second contacts and resupplying bases and outposts, but they were also capable of towing the *Enterprise-D* at warp speed.
As Picard came to stand next to Riker, Riker said, “The USS *Oswego,* Captain. She dropped out of warp and began her approach a few minutes ago.”
Picard grunted. The engine failures were bad enough. It was delaying his arrival at the annual admirals’ banquet Picard had no choice but to attend even if he didn’t want to go. He couldn’t refuse the invitation without a very good reason.
But then Data had turned antisocial. He’d attacked Counselor Troi in a turbolift. After being arrested, Data reported he had been having nightmares. And now Admiral Nakamura, who had been skeptical of the *Enterprise’s* engine failures, seemed to be prepared to have the *Enterprise* dragged to the banquet if necessary. Not how Picard wanted to arrive if he could help it.
Worf said, “We are being hailed, Captain.”
“On screen, Mr. Worf.”
A moment later, the view changed to the *Oswego’s* bridge and the occupants of its twin command chairs, Captain Alonzo Freeman and his wife and first office, Commander Carol Freeman.
Picard smiled and said, “Alonzo. Carol. Good to see you. What can we do for you?”
Alonzo said, “It’s more what we can do for you, Jean-Luc. We were in the system, and we received word from Starbase 219 that you might have some engine trouble. We understand you have to make it to an…important function.” Alonzo wouldn’t want to go to the admirals’ banquet anymore than Picard did, but orders were orders.
Picard held his smile. “Yes, Alonzo, we are having a spot of engine trouble. But Mr. LaForge has the matter in hand. We will be underway soon.”
“Well, Jean-Luc, we’ve been asked to look at a solar weather satellite near the system’s star’s corona. If you need help, we’ll be all too happy to lend a hand.”
“I appreciate the offer, Alonzo. Thank you. We won’t keep you any longer. Picard out.” The screen returned to the view of the *Oswego.* She turned and headed away under impulse.
Riker said, “It would seem Admiral Nakamura is calling our bluff.”
“If only it were a bluff,” Picard said. “I may not want to go to the admirals’ banquet, Will, but I’m not that recalcitrant.”
“Where’s a Romulan plot when you need one?”
“Mmm.”
8
8
It wasn’t long before the major events of the day came together: Data had had nightmares because he was “subconsciously” aware of interphasic aliens feeding on the crews’ cellular peptides. Geordie adjusted Dat’s positronic subprocessors to emit an interphasic pulse that destroyed the creatures.
Picard went to engineering where Geordie explained how an interphasic manufacturing technique used to make one of the new plasma conduits, and that had attracted the creatures. Picard asked how long it would take to get the ship underway, and Geordi said it would take 6 hours to manufacture a replacement conduit. When Picard pointed out the admirals’ banquet would be over by then, Geordi offered to speed up the work. Picard said he didn’t want Geordie to endanger the ship in the most unconvincing way possible. But Geordie got it and said, “Understood, sir.”
Picard had just started down the corridor when Worf’s voice came over the speakers: “Captain, we are being hailed by the *Oswego.*”
“Pipe it down here, Lieutenant,” Picard said, stopping in his tracks to face a wall panel.
A section lit to show the Freemans on the bridge of their ship. They looked more tired than Picard would have expected.
Alonzo Freeman said, “Jean-Luc. How are your engineering repairs going?”
“We’re making progress,” Picard said. “We will have warp power back in six hours.”
“Six hours,” Alonzo said. “The banquet will be over by then. Do you want any assistance?”
“No, no thank you. I don’t want to endanger the *Enterprise* or inconvenience you.”
“I understand,” Alonzo said knowingly. “Oh—we just got a letter from Beckett. She says Boothby did a good job training her for the martial arts tournament tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? I thought it was next week.”
“Right—next week. Sorry, things have been…busy. But we have to put in at Starbase 84 anyway. Smooth sailing, Picard. Freeman out.” The panel section blanked and then returned to a menu.
Picard turned and saw Riker coming towards him.
Picard said, “You just missed Captain Freeman. He’s not going to give us a tow. And he asked an odd question. But I suppose that satellite was a bigger problem than they thought.”
“Or it wasn’t the satellite, Captain. I just got word from Temporal Investigations. They want our logs for the past 72 hours.”
“Indeed? You know, Number One, it may be that we actually had a quiet day by default.”
THE END
